Grace and Peace!
Today’s Uplift: “NO APPROVAL NECESSARY”
If only we could master this concept in our interactions with others! Constantly seeking the approval of others — rather than resting in God’s approval — leads to people-pleasing. Sometimes we realize that we don’t just like to please people; we’re also actually afraid of communicating with them. I’m not saying we’re afraid that they are going to harm us, but afraid of what they might think of us; afraid of what they’d say about us; or afraid of disappointing them. This will make you fall right into the people-pleasing trap!
Proverbs 29:25 declares, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” The definition of the word snare in English means “a trap,” much like one set to catch an animal. But the word as it is used in this verse carries a meaning that goes far beyond animal catching. In the original Hebrew, the word translated in English as snare is the word moqesh. Moqesh doesn’t only mean a trap for prey; it also conveys the concept of bait or a lure. It indicates an animal, object or person that is enticing, causing another to stop what they’re doing and insert themselves into a dangerous situation because of the “prize” in front of them. Before they know it, they’re caught!
Have you ever been enticed to say something you didn’t really mean to gain someone’s approval? Like give someone a compliment to get on their good side, but it’s not true? Or excessively rave about your friend’s new outfit that you don’t care for but that she loves it? Maybe you’re tempted to say “yes” to requests when you’d much rather say “no”~ just to avoid the discomfort of turning down the asker. Maybe there’s a relationship in your life where your heartstrings are constantly tugged. And worst of all, perhaps there’s someone with whom you have a dysfunctional relationship, and you dread making them sad or upset, so you constantly take the bait and give in just to please them.
If you find yourself in any of the above situations, then you my beloved, have been caught in a moqesh. So, what should we do to free ourselves from this snare? We wriggle free when we realize we do not constantly need the approval of others. We have already secured the greatest approval of all — that of being a child of the Most-High God. He can grant us the courage to resist being caught in people-pleasing trap.
II Timothy 1:7 reads, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” Let’s tap into this spirit of bravery — harnessing its power to truly love people by being honest with them, and disciplining our minds to remember that we already have God’s approval, so we don’t need to seek approval from others.
Overcomer, will you dare to begin making choices based on what God wants you to do rather than on someone else’s approval? We can learn to entrust our lives to God, giving responses that line up with His Word, carried out with confidence instead of timidity.
Be Optimistic; Be Open Minded; Be an Over comer!!
Love P.