Friday, May 29, 2009

Whose Approval Do You Seek???



We tend to define ourselves in terms of relationships which sometimes causes us focus too much on what we hear. What we hear we take to heart. We are sensitive to voices and tones and give so much authority over our hearts to what we hear from others. We allow others to put us down or to try to change us. Sometimes they don't even mean any harm but we get hurt along the way. Danger is, we base our lives on this unreliable emotional rollescoaster.



We need to realize that people are 100% unable to fully quench our thirst. Cheri Gregory, the speaker at our women's retreat back in march did this really neat activity to help us visual learners fully graps this: She placed 7 empty bottles up front and gave us small sheets of papers. The bottles were labeled: Spouse/Significant other, Children, Parents, Teachers, Friends, Boss, Strangers. She then told us to write down comments that were made to us or about us that were really hurtful. We were to go to the front and put the comments in the corresponding labeled bottles. They quickely filled up....it was really touching to see the hundreds of hurting words we all carried in our hearts on a daily basis. It was a wake up call for most of us. It brought us to tears to see how we've lived our lives trying to please the wrong crowd and carrying this heavy load in our heart. We started to feel freedom as we surrendered these chains before the Lord!!!



Then Cheri proceeded to grab a red bucket "our heart" and pour the folded papers "water" into the buckets. The bucket was filled yet remained empty. You see, if we base our identity on what others say, we will NEVER be filled.



According to some people in our life, we are not good enough, we are not pretty enough, wealthy enough, responsible enough, popular enough, talented enough, smart enough...you get the picture. You can't please them no matter what you do or say. You have to go out of your way to fit in, to be liked. You just simply can't be yourself. Is there something wrong with this picture or what? We seek to quench our need for approval. This is something I would struggle with growing up. The more I fix my eyes on the Lord though, the less I let others define how I'm going to feel. God is the only one who is going to tell me how I am to feel and how I am to see myself. He is my creator, He knows me, loves me, accepts me for who I am and helps me be a better person. He knows our hearts and He created us beautifully, with His very own hands, with special gifts, in avery UNIQUE way!!! God wants to be the LIVING WATER that quenches YOUR heart. He says in His word:

"Jesus answered and said to her, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into evelasting life. The woman said to Him, Sir give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw. John 4:3-15



God wantS to be the one we come to, the One we seek for approval. We need to remember that we are hear to serve and honor HIM. Others will let us down but our Lord will never leave or forsake us! What helps me stay focused is when I tell myself that I am here to please an aundience of ONE! I want God to be the one that comforts me and speaks into my heart. God does put people in our lives to uplift us, to give a word of encouragement and that's such a blessing to have BUT the minute we put these people ahead of the Lord...we will once again start giving them authority over our heart. Truth is...the only voice worth hearing is JESUS CHRIST!



The Lord says: "Listen carefully to Me and eat what is good. And let your soul delight in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me. Hear, and your soul shall live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. The sure mercies of David"
Isaiah 54-2b-3



I want to incline my ear and listen to God whisper wonderful things. He wants you to live abundantly, not according to how society, your neighbor, friend, sibling says. He has created you before you were even in the womb. He wants you to have freedom in knowing that you are very special to Him.



The Lord wants to transform you, uplift you, protect you, restore you, encourage you, mold you and simply love YOU!!! Fix your eyes on Him and patiently wait to hear Him speak to you as you seek to become more and more like the Proverbs 31 woman He wants you to be. He wants you to be His princess...He wants to be YOUR KING!!! That is my desire, to depend solely on Him and seek His approval.

I SERVE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!!!!

20 comments:

~Niki~ said...

I love this post. I am on the beginnings of my journey with Jesus Christ and I'm all alone. No one in my family believes, really. So it makes things difficult. Finding a church by myself, praying by myself, etc. I want to learn it ALL...Thank you for this lovely post.

Jess said...

This is awesome...this is also something i have been dealing with.

Check out my post today and you will understand why...plus the part that pertains to this is how people have been rude about Jason being home and not working...while I work.

But I also find that God wants us to come to him with our problems... not just that we need to because we can't handle things on our own, but He wants us to.

He truly wants us to get better, to do better, to feel better.

What an awesome thought-provoking post.

Love you dearie...and i hope all is well with you today.

Jess

The First Lady said...

Divinely inspired words from a truly beautiful woman. It's an honor to watch the Lord use you to bless so many of us abundantly. Your words with filled with Truth and exactly what I needed to hear.

I'm going through "The Search for Significance" workbook right now and it is transforming me every day. Your sweet words were a reminder that seeking the Lord's acceptance alone is exactly what He wants me to be focusing on right now.

Much love to you! Keep blessing others with your words and your music!

Mr. Woolf said...

I really liked this post and some of the others on your blog. It really does matter who we go to for approval! God really wants us to come to him!
Blessings,
Mr. Woolf
www.theologicallyeclectic.com

Tonya said...

Preach! :-)

What an awesome post. You are 100% right. The only approval we should seek should be that of God.

Great job.

~Sandy said...

Just had you on my mind. I left you an award over at my blog. Stop by and pick it up if you would like:)
Hugs, Sandy

Megan said...

Great post, that is so true. People always seek approval in the wrong places.

Thank you for your opinion on my dress!! I'm leaning toward that one as well. I've never been to a ball before so I'm excited and really hope we get to go. :)

Amber said...

Awsome post.
I needed to be reminded of this.
I have always had a hard time dismissing hurtful things others have said, yet I do know i only need to please one, The One.
Thank you for such a needed remnder!
You write beautifully!
ak

Abs and Me said...

Very nice! Thank you for this post! It seems like it was meant just for me!!! Thank you again and hope all is well with you!

Jess said...

It's time for me to be getting ready for work, but I had you on my mind...thought I would stop by to say hello.

Hope you are doing well. YOU are the only one I am visiting today...LOL

Have a great rest of the day and an awesome weekend ahead.

Keep these posts coming...I love them.

Lots of love twinie!

Jess

Jess said...

It's the twin who can't stay away...lol


I knew that you wanted kids, but I had no idea you had been trying for a while. Whatever you do don't give up and also don't depend on what a DR. says...yes, they are normally right and they do know alot...but here read this...

From the time I started my periods until I was 18 the obgyn's told me over and over that i had severe endometriosis and that i would never have kids. I had female surgeries and plenty of medicines to go through...still no chance of a kid. So when I turned 18 I went to the doctor and they flushed dye in my tubes to see if I was fertile...I was 100% blocked...not a chance. 3 months later I was pregnant....i went back and they re-checked me...i was blocked again...

tell me that that wasn't an act of GOD?!!!! If He can and did give me Emmy....then He can and may give you a kiddo...if He doesn't, then it's His will, but that doesn't mean that you can't addopt...or spread your love other ways..

You are a very lovely lady who deserves children in whatever way God gives them to you... I will be praying for His will... and way.

Love you
Jess

La Familia Garcia said...

This is beautiful! I totally struggled with this as an early christian, mostly because of how "proud" my parents or others were of me, I tried so hard to keep pleasing. But I was failing.

I wanted to share his love with others, but I didn't even know how deep his love is for me. As you said, when we are able to put this aside and serve him alone with our life, we are all the sudden able to hear his voice and see his ways. And share his name with others. Thanks for sharing his love!

Psalm 96:3
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

Lighthouse Prayer Line said...

Hi friend,

Thanks for sharing that with us! We love your
site!! Amen & amen! :)

Hey. If you get the opportunity, would you
mind praying for the prayer requests that are
on our main page?

May the Lord bless you and your family!!

Mark, Lynn, Brooke & Carley Seay
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org

ps - please consider "following" our blog
-or- atleast grab one of our free, linking,
blue buttons. ( see top sidebar at
www.LighthousePrayerLine.org ).

•´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Visit Us Soon!.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´•

Mountain Mama said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Nice to "meet" you. I enjoyed reading your blog. Great job on your last post. So true and so hard to remember.

A big thanks to you and your husband as you serve our country. He and the many others are doing an awesome job. They make us proud!! And you have lots to be proud of - as a soldiers wife.

blessings,
ashley

Lindsey said...

Amazing post!!! I just adore your blog and think you and your hubs are the cutest!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Great post....I enjoyed reading your blog today.
I am still finding my way around blogland....
I always love making new friends..

I am posting about Disney so hope you will stop by.
Each comment enters you for the June giveaway.

popuri said...

This post is so good! I wished I had attended this conference too. We all need this reminder every so often!

Jess said...

Hi dear! Are you okay? I'm usually the one away for days or weeks...now I guess its your turn!


Hope all is well
Happy Sunday
Happy New Week

Smile dear....you deserve it!

Love your twin
Jess

Natalie said...

I totally needed this today, thanks girl :D

Tara said...

Just wonderful!!! i love it....thanks for inspiring me today! ;o)