The One Where We Idolize Approval

Are you a people pleaser? I am - I have a servant's heart and just love to make sure everyone around me is happy and that what I'm doing is pleasing to them. The problem is when you become so obsessed with pleasing others, you say yes to everything and everyone. You eventually become overwhelmed and overscheduled. You suddenly get moved off track of what you are supposed to be doing in life. You lose site of God's plan and are mindlessly saying yes to please everyone around you rather than focus on what God wants you to be doing. I have to stop to reset and remind myself that my worth and value is not in the approval of others, but in the approval of Jesus. Pleasing God is all that matters. Staying in His Word and doing what He prompts me to do. If my time is all wrapped up on side trails like a little ole' lost chicken, I can no longer use my time for the path God intended in my life.

I recently realized that constantly needing the approval of those around us can become an idol in our lives. When we start to care more about what others think about us than what God does. This was a huge revelation that actually helped me break free from caring so much about what people think of me. I only need to be concerned with what Jesus thinks of me and that I'm properly reflecting Jesus to those around me. Making sure the things of the world around us aren't becoming more important than God is something we should be reflecting on regularly. Not spending so much time being concerned about what other's think of me opened up a vast amount of time for me to spend with God. Way more than I realized. It changed my mindset. My mind became open to be set on what matters most. This was a stronghold on my life that needed to break free. When my concerns were split between what other's thought of me and what God thought of me, I wasn't able to give God my 100% focus. If you aren't 100% plugged into God and His desires for your life, then what are you truly plugged into? I had to stop and rearrange the power cords in my mind.

Romans 8:6 "So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."

Being obsessed with other people's approval is idolatry. This was a hard realization when you are a people pleaser and "no" is a hard word to say when someone asks something of you. The stronger your relationship with God is and the closer you are to Him, the more you will know His will for your life. You'll become more confident in the "Yes's" God is bringing you to because you will know His will and plan for your life. The "No's" that are needed will start to become easy because you'll have a clear vision of what God wants you to be doing in life. You are here to follow God's direction and guidance. Not people's. Being an approval seeker can cause you to end up down those distraction paths the devil uses. If you are so busy pleasing those around you with meaningless tasks, are you still able to have time to fulfill the meaningful tasks God wants you to do? You know, those real tasks that matter the most. The real meat of life. The things God leads us to do that could potentially change eternity for those around you. Those true and real things are a lot more important than how many "likes" are on your latest social media post.

We are not supposed to be so busy or distracted with meaningless "stuff" in the world that we have no time to intentionally live and carry out our true purpose in life. That is not God's plan. That is the devil's plan. To fill our lives so full of meaninglessness that our days and time are completely filled beyond capacity. God's plan for our lives is purposeful and intentional. His motives are pure and good and will give us more fulfilling lives than we could ever imagine. Care less what people think and be more passionate about what God thinks. The fear of God is the only cure for the fear of letting people down. A healthy fear. Not wanting to disobey God because your love for Him far exceeds anything the world has to offer.

Our time is what our life becomes and our attention is the doorway to our hearts. What we give our attentions to becomes what we worship and idolize. We ultimately become what we worship. Are we truly worshiping God in our daily lives? Are we growing to be more and more like Jesus in our routines from day to day?

Psalms 115:8 "And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them."

I know one thing for sure, I don't want to worship anything or anyone other than God ever. I need to stay alert and diligent daily to ensure my mind, heart, and soul are on the same path as Jesus. That He truly has all of my attention. If there is anything out of line, I want God to show me and correct me immediately.

Psalms 139: 23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

Search me, break me, and send me. I pray this prayer every single morning. I have to because every morning is a fresh start to make sure God sets my emotions for the day and my view of the world around me. I don't ever want to risk my worship being misdirected in any of my days.

God showed me that I was getting actual anxiousness when I would think about whether or not someone approved of me or something I had done. I would act really timid, fearful-like, and ask a ton of approval seeking questions of whoever was involved. I was completely out of line and had to ask for forgiveness in this area. Once I released this really bad habit in my life to Jesus, I can't even explain the freedom that came with it. The peace, confidence, and trust God began to pour into my life is something I don't take for granted. Talk about a self-esteem overhaul!

2 Tim 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

Here's the thing. God doesn't play favorites. It even says so plain as day in Colossians 3:25. Check out the very last sentence. It clearly says - "For God has no favorites." He loves each of us equally and would have sent Jesus to die for our sins and close the gap between us and God even if it was just you or I here on Earth. We were chosen and created by God to be here on Earth at this very time and moment. He loves us all more than words can describe. He loves us with a God-sized supernatural love that can't be fully explained or even comprehended. The God of the entire universe takes pleasure in us - He loves to hang out with us and develop a close, tightly bonded relationship with us.

1 Peter 2:9 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

It's important to stop and evaluate our daily ins and outs of life - are we reflecting God's image in all we do? Are we reflecting the love of Jesus? The compassion of Jesus? The empathy? Or are we looking at others around us with jealousy, idolizing them and wishing you had what they had. Is our focus on desiring those around us to approve of all we do and say? Are we trying to touch the hem of others or are we keeping our focus on touching the hem of Jesus?

When you catch yourself recklessly comparing yourself to others, take a detour and remember who you are. Remember who God made you to be. Remember you are God's masterpiece. God chose you.

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

When we are thinking about our lives and the details our days, it's important to make sure those details line up with God and His Word. God created us to be exactly who we are at this moment in time on Earth. He loves us and desires an intimate relationship with us. What we give our attention to is what we ultimately worship and is given a doorway to our hearts. God wants full access to our hearts. God wants our full worship. God wants to encompass the entire doorway.

Rev 22:8-9 "I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, "No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in the book. Worship only God!"