Not There Yet | Daily Devotional 1643

You're listening to the My Morning Devotional Podcast, episode 1643. Today's Devo is called Not There Yet.

Hey there, we're the Alestees, a ministry family working together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us, when days get busy, the to-do lists get longer, it can be hard to find devotional time. That's why every weekday we share a five-minute daily dose of heaven. This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast.

Hello everyone. My name is Lauren Burgos, and I am your host for this week, and we are reading out of Philippians 3. If you are just doing this Devo, I'm just going to encourage you after this episode is over, close your phone, go to the Bible app, open Philippians 3, and just read it all. It's really good, yes, in little bite-sized pieces like I'm doing it, but it is so powerful to read all the way through. So 10 out of 10, I suggest it. This chapter just kills me. It's amazing. And we are really this whole week, we're talking about what is actually worth it. Like what are we spending our energy on that's not really worth it? Where can we improve? So today we're talking about, yes, not being there yet, not having achieved, but I really want to dive in on comparison because I feel like that is such a little annoying gnat that sometimes can never go away. But in order to achieve talking about comparison, we're gonna read out of Philippians 3, 12, and it says this not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. And can I just say we're talking about what is actually worth it in life? And Paul here is just like spitting facts. He's like, hey, look, we talked about in episode one, like what are you actually chasing? Like, don't spend all your energy on things you don't need to be spending it on. Like I consider all my goals, everything I achieve, I consider that a lot for the sake of Christ. And can I just say if you are in a season where where maybe you're trying to have all your ducks in a row, you're trying to get organized, I maybe just reflect on Paul's wisdom here, where he's like, hey, look, I'm not even gonna spend my energy looking to the left or to the right or focusing way too far ahead or looking into the future. Because here's the thing I'm not gonna get stressed because it's not that I've already obtained all this. And this is as Paul is going on a whole like fact saying, like, I consider that a loss for the sake of Christ, for the sake of knowing Christ. He's like, Look, I haven't even achieved all that, guys. I still struggle. Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on for the sake of Christ. And I hold on for the sake of Christ Jesus that took hold of me. So there's something so freeing about that because you don't have to pretend that you have everything figured out. You don't have to pretend that you have all your ducks in a row. And you don't have to be embarrassed that there are still areas where God is working on you. You don't have to be embarrassed that you're like, I thought my life would look differently by now. That was me for a long, long time. That's still me on some low days. And we don't have to be embarrassed by that because I think, and this is the key to comparison. That's exactly where the enemy wants you, first of all, is to look to the right and look to the left and compare over here and compare over there. But I love how Paul says this. He's like, look, not that I'm an expert in not comparing, because I'm absolutely not, but and it's not that I haven't arrived at my goal or I have arrived at my goal, but I press on, I continue for the sake of Christ. I'm not perfect, but I keep going. And I take hold of that for the sake of Christ Jesus who took hold of me. I think that right there is the mindset. If you struggle with comparison, that is your mindset right there. It's like, look, I'm not perfect. She over there, her life's perfect. She's like gorgeous. She's got like four kids, and she looks more amazing and more fit than I do with zero kids. Or like, and that's a silly comparison, right? But you can look over here and be like, man, she's just like they've got the best, you know, family. Why can't I have that kind of family? Or she's got the best job. Why can't I have that kind of job? And there's something so humbling about being like, you know, maybe I don't have that job yet, but I don't need to have that job yet. And I take hold of that thought, or or I take hold of of the future that God has for me, just like Christ Jesus took a hold of me. Because I don't need to struggle with that right now. If that's not the season I'm in, then God doesn't see that that's the season that I need to be in right now. And and once I get there, it's gonna be beautiful and it's gonna be lovely, but but I'm not even gonna waste my time on it. Because here's the thing it's not worth it. And it's funny, this podcast started going one way, but I just want to talk about comparison real quick. Comparison, people say it's always the thief of joy, but can I just say from my own experience, comparison has made me the least grateful person on the planet? When I start comparing, I quickly lose how grateful I am for the things in my life. And it genuinely turns me into a person I do not like. So if you struggle with comparison, I just wanna I want to encourage you to really grab onto this verse that says, look, not that I've already obtained all this, it's not that I'm perfect, it's not that I have like I see this person over here and they look like they're have they have all their lives together, or they look like they have their whole life together. And you know what? Maybe I haven't obtained that kind of life. Maybe I don't have my whole life together, but I'm gonna press on in my life and I'm gonna hold on to the goal that I am achieving because Christ Jesus took a hold of me. And Christ Jesus did a lot for me, which goes just in line with knowing Jesus and who he is. And also it goes in line with I'm not gonna chase things that do not deserve my attention, like comparison. So if you don't feel like you're there yet, if you don't feel like you've arrived at your goal, please, I beg of you, do not waste energy or time comparing yourself to others. Just be like Paul. Just be like, look, not even I've obtained this, not even I'm perfect. I still struggle and I look to the right or to the left, but I press on because guess what? God has called me to a goal. So I press on towards that goal. And I take hold of that just like Christ Jesus took a hold of me. And just remember, God isn't finished with you yet, and God has a very special plan that is specific to you. So let's pray. Dear Lord, we thank you for devotionals and podcasts that are all over the place and that start one way and that go another, God. But it's okay because Lord, I just believe that someone specifically needed to hear this, God. And Lord, we just we thank you that you're gracious to us, Lord, even when we compare and even when we we easily look around and compare our lives to others, God. But Lord, help us not to do that, but help us to be like Paul and find a humility that says, you know what, we're not perfect. And I haven't obtained this, and I haven't arrived at my goal, but I'm gonna press on towards the goal that God has called me to, and I'm gonna press on towards the life that God has called me to. We thank you for this all. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

So there you have it, your five minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you to take on your day. If you've found value in this devotional, share it with a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using right now. Until tomorrow, we pray that your latte is strong, but your love for Jesus is stronger.