What sets you apart?

This is a blog I wrote last fall, and I feel convicted from it. I needed to reread this and desperately need to apply it to my life...


As young Christian women, what truly, sets us apart? I'm sure your mind immediately jumps to the same things mine does. I believe Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, I live my life for Him, I try to live in this world but not be a part of it, ... wait. Stop for a moment and let's really think and focus on that last one. We know we are different, we know we are chosen by God to be lights in this world, but how differently do we really act? Sure, we don't sleep around and go binge drinking every weekend. But how do we treat each other on a daily basis? Are we confident enough in who we are in Christ to not fall in to the catiness that defines young women today?

I think that, as a group, we need to start treating each other with a whole lot more love than animosity. From my own personal experience, if you are not confident in who you are in Christ, then you lack confidence, if you lack confidence, you lack self-esteem, and it is when we lack self-esteem that we turn to critical thoughts and actions towards each other.

Don't you think this is a mysterious phenomenon in young women? When we don't feel good about ourselves, we turn our attention on the short-comings of others, which gives us a temporal feeling of superiority. Temporal. Ultimately, it causes us to feel ashamed, regretful, and ultimately worse than we did before, maybe only subconsciously. It's a vicious circle we have created for ourselves isn't it? Once we start to feel bad again, we begin to do the very thing that made us feel bad in the first place.

I have several wonderful, amazing single girlfriends, who tell me all the time how there are no "good" men out there in their social ouevre. (You know who you are and you know I love you!) I always tell them to focus on being the Godly woman they need to be in order to attract the Godly man they want in their lives. Can't we look at friends the same way? What are you doing to be a good friend to the people you love in your life? If you are having a problem with someone, focus on showing them love, instead of giving them the cold shoulder. They may have hurt you, they may have a malicious streak a mile long, and yes, I agree, that often times those are not people you need to have in your life as friends. But the bible teaches us to love one another. Sure, we've all heard that how many millions of times. But do we really, really act it out in our lives?

John 13:35 says, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." That my beautiful friends, is what truly sets us a part from the rest of the world. Let's all start practicing it today. Forgive that friend, look beyond our shortcomings, pray for each other, support each other. I want to prove the world wrong. Don't you?