Wednesday, October 8, 2008
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Bound WithinAm I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
Until you quit agreeing with those who’ve mistreated you, or the events that crippled you emotionally, you’ll remain locked in a prison of your own making. Too many of us have made it our life’s work to change somebody else’s opinion of us. We’re determined to prove to them that we’re valuable. Never allow somebody else’s approval to become your goal. The truth is that some folks may never like you. They may never see your good qualities. Any time you agree with somebody who rejects or abuses you, you put yourself into bondage to them. By saying either in word or deed, 'You were right to hit me, or leave me or hurt me,' you’re tying yourself up with their opinion rather than God’s. Furthermore, when their opinion of you becomes your opinion, you’ve built a prison inside your soul with only one prisoner - you! Are you prepared to accept that the person you’ve spent your life trying to impress may never be impressed? And are you prepared to accept that, from God’s perspective, it doesn’t matter? To deal effectively with others, you must be able to work alongside them - without allowing yourself to be controlled by their moods, or governed by their opinion of you. In all probability, you don’t need to be delivered from the devil or anybody else; you just need to be delivered from the wrong beliefs you have about yourself. When you can acknowledge that, you’ve taken the first step toward freedom.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on You and Your opinion of me rather than others’. In the final analysis it is only Your opinion that counts! Thank You for Your Love, Grace, and Mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on You and Your opinion of me rather than others’. In the final analysis it is only Your opinion that counts! Thank You for Your Love, Grace, and Mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Hi Tim,
This devotion spoke to me. I am an artist and often for being known as a Christian am shunned, it is also true in
some letting me show my art at all. I started a Christian artist group, teach them a theme with using one lesson for
Bible study, one for art history, one for a current art technique. After teaching art full time 30 some years, being an art director and head of many art exhibits, I have now the time to work more on my own art. The USAforJOY art group I started: Using Sharing Art for Jesus Others You, is one example of how Jesus can turn off
many outside the Body of Christ. It is just amazing. I am thankful
to know that serving and blessing our LORD is all that really matters.
Pray for those who do not understand and bless them. Even in the art group, I have helped some see this is the way to treat the ones who wrong us. Pray for God to use this group to open doors to more who might never hear otherwise. By the way, at least five in the group have NO church home, they do have faith, I believe, it is just so shallow, and tender.
Glen is doing a little better each day. It is a slow process. We are going to have a full evaluation on Oct. 23rd in Madison at the UW. After that he can set up the bypass surgery. It is a lot to take for his physical body. In the mean time we are trusting God and reading His Word and standing on it. Your devotions are a daily ministry to us.
God be Praised,
Have a good day!
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One of favorite verses...especially for the work place. Having a rough morning...thanks for the reminder that my Savior's opinion of me is far greater than that of man...this "pleaser" has a difficult time with disappointing others.
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