Do You Approve

Approval. This is a word that holds a lot of power. As human beings we seek approval, even if we don’t know that is what we are doing. Why is this? Why do we want that praise, or that recognition? Sometimes we want praise when we know we did something right to have an ego boost which can feel really nice, maybe we want approval for reassurance from doubt, maybe we want approval to prove a point, to try an be an example. There are many many reason as to why we seek approval in everyday life , but what about when it comes to our faith? Who are we actually doing it for? For ourselves, for other people, or are we truly and whole heartedly doing it for God? Approval and motivation go hand in hand, approval motivates us to do certain tasks, we want praise from our Mother’s so we clean the house and wait for praise. When it comes to faith what is our real motivation? I think sometimes, and even I am guilty of this, we put up this facade around others because we want them to give us approval of our devotion to God. We may want to impress others so we read the bible extra so we have something to talk about the next day, or we go to church more often to try and show that we are really devoted. We do these things that we may think are getting us closer to God, but deep down their motive isn’t for Him, it’s for approval from others. Our motivation has to be completely out of the love and want of God, and only God, that is the only way.

“Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” Galatians 1:10

Now let me tell you, we will all do this, it may happen and we may not realize it until much later, but we are human and our desires will get in the way. It’s okay, we just have to take it day by day and live with the desire to please God and nobody else. If we truly, 100% live in that, things will change dramatically, if we work to please God we may find a gift God has blessed us with we may not have realized we had. If we work to please God in the kinds we offer others, who knows how many people you could positively affect. If we aim to please God and only God, our hearts will follow and lead us to the life God has made for us. In everyday life it is okay to want approval from others, it is okay to want praise, but when it comes to our faith, there should be only one source, because He is the only one worthy. Who knows what today could bring if we live in this mindset! It is so freeing, to know that is doesn’t matter what the person next to you thinks, you don’t need anyone’s approval! You can be and do what you want, sing some Otis Redding at the top of your lungs, do a little dance while waiting for the bus, if we find rely on God’s praise alone we could become a whole new person.

So. Go out, be free, you don’t need my approval.