Whose Approval Are You Seeking?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
    but trusting the Lord means safety.

Proverbs 29:25 NLT

 

Pleasing people can become a full-time job—one that comes with no paycheck or benefits. The only thing it produces is frustration and insecurity.

When we constantly try to win the approval of others—fearing what they think or say about us—we create a self-made trap.

The Word for You Today says:

A trap is just another word for a prison. If someone other than God can determine your worth as a person, that someone can make you feel like a prisoner anytime they decide to. When a critic’s opinion becomes your own opinion, you’re living in a prison of your own making.

My pastor recently said, “The Lord is not interested in confirming your wrong opinion of yourself.”

In Galatians, Paul writes, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant” (1:10 NLT).

Let’s face it, trying to impress people and win their approval is fruitless and pointless. Don’t allow anyone—not even yourself—to determine your worth as a person. The only opinion that matters is God’s. What He says stands, and He already thinks you’re amazing.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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Trying to win the approval of others is pointless. Don’t allow anyone to determine your worth as a person. The only opinion that counts is God’s. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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