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How to Stop Living for the Approval of Others Once and For All

Oct 7, 2013 | 3 comments

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10

Growing up my life was consumed with the opinions and approval of others.

I would wear different masks in hopes of fitting into different crowds and would bend over backwards trying to fit in with my peers.

I would try to conform myself into society’s image but I ended up losing myself along the way.

I came to a point in my life where I was trying so hard to look and act like everyone else that I had no idea who “I” really was.

When I came to Christ and started reading the Word of God, something amazing started to happen. Little by little, one day at a time, I discovered that a transformation process had begun deep down in the depths of my heart.

God Almighty Himself started to mold me, sculpt me and shape me not into the world’s image, brothers and sisters, but into His very own.

How to Stop Wanting Approval From Others

As sons and daughters of the most High King we need to stop living our lives for the approval and acceptance of other people.

Our number one priority in life should be to please God and allow Him free reign in transforming us into who He has predestined us to be.

Unlike the unrealistic expectations the world places on you, the Lord your God has saved you, redeemed you, unconditionally loves you, and accepts you just the way you are.

We are loved by our Father in heaven so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place, and there is no greater love than that.

He knows the plans He has for our lives, “Plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and future.” (See John 15:13/ Jer. 29:11).

You were not born by mere chance or coincidence, brothers and sisters.

Even if your birth was not planned by your parents, God Almighty, the creator of all the heavens and the earth, had a divine plan for breathing the breath of life into you.

Feeling Like You’re Not Good Enough?

The world will tell you’re not good enough. They will try to make you feel like an outcast, unaccepted, and unable to fit in.

They will say you are not skinny enough; not pretty enough; not wealthy or affluent enough, and not smart enough.

But, these are all lies from the pit of hell!

The world may have created these “social standards” and cookie cutter molds expecting you to conform to but let me tell you something.

Your worth and your value to God are not based on your physical, social or intellectual attributes.

God Almighty has made us in His image so our value, worth, and identity are found solely in Him.

The world may judge you on the outside, but God’s focus is what’s going on your inside.  

“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7

You are worthy; you are valuable; you are special and you are irreplaceable simply because you are a child of the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

God Almighty Himself has fearfully and wonderfully made you in His image, and He does not make any mistakes.  

As Christians, we’re not made to blend into this wicked and fallen world. We were not saved and called out of the darkness to be complacent and follow the crowd.

We were called to reach out, bless the Lord, and bless other people.

We were saved, brothers and sisters, to shine the light of Jesus for the entire world to see.

The Bible says:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

People are watching you and everything that you do, so if you act like them, why would they turn and follow you? 

Key Takeaway

Our worth is not based on the type of car we drive. It’s not based on the city we live in, the color of our skin, or the size of clothes we wear.

What matters most in this life is our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We are to put Him on everyday as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

So take heart brothers and sisters if you too don’t look like the models on TV.

We may never be flawless this side of heaven, but God is molding us into His image.

He may not change us into perfection overnight, but never forget who you are and what’s been done for you.

“You are more than the choices that you’ve made, You are more than the sum of your past mistakes, You are more than the problems you create, You’ve been remade” and God will finish the good work He first began in you. (Phil. 1:6)

Study Verses: Isaiah 11:3, Jeremiah 1:5, John 15:18-27, Ephesians 1:4-5

3 Comments

  1. Peter Guirguis

    What a great post Wendelin! I totally can relate to this blog post because I witness to atheists all the time and I’m used to all of their arguments.

    But be encouraged in your witnessing, because like you said, God is able to change anybody. As a former atheist myself, God got a hold of my heart and drew me to Himself. Thank You Jesus!

    Reply
  2. Hopper Walter

    This was the first thing I was looking for on E-mail. Great study and as our God has blessed me to relate in not planning to have childern, but God did. And to know our God by letting Him mold me, like our worship song,also loved the Key Takeaway. In the book of Daniel 1: 4,6,12, how Daniel purpose in his heart not to defile himself. But to have only vegetables and water, a ten day trail. And how their names were Daniel, Hanani-al, Mish-a-el, Az-a-ri-ah, but changed Babylonian names. How in the world we may of had street names which people knew us by. And how they were tought the Chaldean language. How in the world may have been, what it be like, what’s coming down, or what’s up caus not causon. Not by our God and being transfromed by the Holy Spirit. My language is brother and sister along with God bless you and praise the Lord. As our God is not through with this preson yet, I am still under his construction making me and braking me helping me to me more like Him. Thanks for the image credits love servent, as I have learned in Samoan Jesus loves you and so do I. God bless all waiting for His coming.

    Reply
    • Amanda Cook

      aww thank you so much Walter!! Your Words and testimony are very encouraging as well! =] That was defintinely something I needed to be reminded of today…”i am still under construction”. I want so badly to be flawless and perfect already but I know it wont happen until I get to heaven! We’ll always have areas we need to grow in but praise God He is doing that work in us! I’m thankful He is the Potter molding me the clay into His image. =] God is good brother! I pray you’re doing well!

      Reply

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