Show Yourself Approved 🏅

Many times in life, we are so obsessed with the approval of others, that we forget that the only approval we REALLY need is the one from God.

I understand the need to want to fit in, to want to be accepted and loved. However, our identity ultimately must be rooted in God and His ways. If it isn’t, we’re bound to change depending on whoever is around and whatever direction they take us. We will be navigating life in random ways, confused and directionless, as many people are today. You probably know some people like this! I used to be like this myself!

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV):

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

What does this mean? It means that we only need God’s approval! Lol. It’s really quite a liberating thought if you think about it. It means that we must read and study the word of God ourselves, so that nobody can come and fool us with false doctrines, or try to sway us from doing the work of God, get us to think their way, manipulate us using the word by twisting it or misinterpreting it, or lead us to confusion in our identity in Christ. Being an “approved” person to God means not letting people or things get in the way of your relationship with God, but doing the things that we’re supposed to be doing for His Kingdom.

Some people let other people “create” their identity based on wordly stereotypes or on who they THINK they are! They let others dictate their actions and ultimately, the course of their life. Nobody on earth knows us better than our father, who created each and every one of us. He knew us from before we were born (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows every hair in our heads (Luke 12:7). And he STILL loves us with a love sometimes I fail to comprehend! 😍❤

No matter what anybody may think, if it goes against what God has for your life, you can respectfully disagree. And they cannot be upset (if they are, it is really their fault for trying to manipulate you lol). Nobody has the right to infringe upon your freedom to follow the Lord and His plan for your life! 🕊

I’m not advocating burning every bridge in your life here lol. We should try our best to have good relationships with people as best as we can. What I am saying is, if you have a calling or a task you feel God has given you, and somebody in your circle comes up against it, and tries to stop you or what you know to be God’s plan for your life, it is okay to respectfully disagree with that person, free of guilt, and continue to do God’s work. It can be your parents, siblings, pastors, friends, etc. Whomever. Because ultimately, we need to be obedient to God. That’s our individual responsibility. He is the only one we are accountable to. He is the only one that we need to show ourselves approved to! 

Our friends or family are not God. They do not always have all the answers and they do not always understand God’s calling in our lives, as supportive as they may be. And as understanding as they may try to be, as humans, we are still very much not perfect. Sometimes we may not grasp the will of God in other people’s lives, and people may not understand the will of God in your life. And that is okay. Sometimes, it takes a little convincing and a little explaining for them to really “get” the dreams God has placed within you. But you need to just follow God and be OBEDIENT to Him. If they still disapprove, it can be hurtful, but that is okay too, and it is a reality every Christian must accept. We have to keep pushing forward. If they are just rejecting you for following Jesus altogether, remember it really is a rejection of Jesus, they rejected Him first. (John 15:18)

Sometimes even those closest to us will not understand the dreams God has placed within our hearts. We still need to do these things, despite their lack of approval. Ultimately, we need to show ourselves approved to God and God only, not to anyone else, no matter how convincing their words may sound, or how much they try to rationalize that you shouldn’t. YOU get to decide what course you want your life to take. Ask God first and foremost for wisdom and guidance in your life. Let Him guide you, God truly has our best interest at heart. ❤🙏

I will leave you with this Bible verse:

Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV)- Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus 

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Also, a similar verse from Luke:

Luke 9:23 (ESV)- Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus 

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Hope you are having a blessed week! Xoxo 💖

PS: Here’s a link for further reading on this very interesting topic, it kinda ties in with having healthy boundaries too. (You guys know I’m ALL about those boundaries!!) 🙏💪🤓💖

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-q-and-a/parenting/parental-authority-over-a-grown-child