October #jammed: Free Grace.

Day 296: Old fashioned highlight reels.

““You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the victories of the Lord, the victories of his villagers in Israel.'” Judges 5:10-11

Scrolling through the latest edition of smiles and happy sentiments is mostly fulfilling, but every so often a season of comparison and discouragement sets in as my social media feeds refresh. It can come out of nowhere and be triggered by nothing in particular. The constant seed of jealousy will threaten to plant itself in our minds and take root in our hearts unless we purposely practice being happy for other people.

In the Old Testament, white donkey’s were the highlight reel of choice:

While donkeys were ridden by the upper classes as symbols of status. Among the Canaanites the economically powerful advertised their social standing further by dressing the donkeys with luxurious “saddle blankets.”  NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible.

Yet, the Bible says, “consider the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the victories of the Lord, the victories of his villagers in Israel.'” God’s people were encouraged by His victory in their lives, as the white donkeys of progress and prosperity passed them by. 

Through the thick of social media, we are called to remember the blessings and victories the Lord has accomplished in our lives. When we look for the Light there, we’ll see it. We may have to unfollow a few people, but there’s light to be found, and we have light to shine there, too. 

As we look around the world, sifting for our place in it all, comparison is a normal reaction.  Christ builds our confidence in who we’ve become through following Him. Be happy for the white donkeys, but know that we possess something so much more valuable.

Father, Praise You for the way You teach us how to become who we are through Your Son. Thank You for the reminder to be happy for others and grateful for our victories and blessings. We confess the discouragement that has been bred out of the comparison we have let our minds wander into, and pray that Your blessing and protection over where our minds drift and our lives travel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Sift-Surfing,

Megs

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