Rejected or Approved

"Remember: rejection from man doesn't mean rejection from God. He loves us unconditionally.” - Lysa TerKeurst

I was just thinking about this last night. I was telling my husband how I was reworking my blog and read him my first entry. I was so proud of myself. I wanted him to see that I've been paying attention and that I'm learning. But, as usual, it sparked a disagreement over my daughter. This had nothing to do with that. I wanted him to SEE that I'm trying to change myself. But, alas, it blew up in my face.

I sat there fuming, until I realized that wasn't getting me anywhere. Why was I so dependent on what he thought of my accomplishments? Yes, he's my husband. Yes, I value his opinion. But I'm putting the wrong emphasis on whose approval I am seeking. What SHOULD matter is that what I'm doing meets with the approval of Jesus Christ. Am I doing this for MY own glory or am I doing this for His glory?

So much of who we are seems to be rooted in what others think of us. It leads to such destruction and frustration. We forget who our Great Designer is. He made each and every one of us unique with all our own qualities. When we seek others opinion of us, we are, in essence, saying that perhaps God did something wrong with us. We don't meet the approval of others. There's something missing. God doesn't make mistakes. As my husband says "God don't like ugly". Which is why He sees each and every one of us as beautiful, unique creations.

If you have children,  you know that feeling that when your children were born how you looked at them and thought "wow, I created this!" That's how God looks at us! He made us! What a miraculous thing He did!

Try to remember that when you compare yourself with others, it is only going to lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. Remember that the only One you need to please is God. Think about the things you do and ask yourself, would this meet with God's approval? Am I doing this for God's glory or my own? If you are doing things for His approval then you will always be on the right track. Let your life and works glorify our Great Creator. At the end of the day don't forget to thank the Lord for who you are and for creating you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

God Bless.
Linda

Good Morning Girls Devotional Week 8 Your Health

Well, after being so seriously behind, I'm going to buckle down and get this last week done. Especially since we'll be starting a new study tomorrow! 

READ: Psalm 139: 13-16

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.1

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

  My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

S: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

O: How many times have we looked in the mirror and not liked what we've seen? We see all our flaws and imperfections. We see all the things we are not. We see ourselves as we think others see us as. But that's not how God sees us.

Society tells us that we are to hide our flaws. You need to be thinner, younger looking, have the best clothes. You have to be the perfect wife and/or mother. Buy this, use that and you'll be perfect. We fall for it all the time. 

1 Peter 3-5 tells us " Don't try to make yourselves 
beautiful on the outside, with stylish hair or by wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. Instead, make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This type of beauty is very precious in God's eyes. For it was in this way that holy women who trusted in God used to make themselves beautiful..."

As I like to say, God don't make ugly! God has made us in His image. We are exactly the way we are supposed to be. Outward beauty will fade over time. But it is the beauty that is on the inside that will carry us over for all our natural lives. It is the beauty of faith, of love, of knowing that we are true children of God. 

A: I am just as guilty as the next person of not liking what I see in the mirror. I have such a poor self-image that most times I don't even want to look in the mirror.

But I need to remember that God made me this way for a reason. I am who I am. If people can't accept me the way I am, then I don't need those people in my life. 

It is our job to build people up. It is our job to trust in God. I need to really remember this. I should have it tattooed across my forehead!! lol I need to remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made because God designed me! I am an original! I am a child of God!

P: Lord Jesus, we need to remember that Your Father created us in His image. That God our Father makes no mistakes. We need to stop listening to the people who are "of this world" and start listening to You. Help us to see all of what we are as perfect. Remind us that You love us regardless. We are the way we are for a reason. Help us to remember that. In Your Name we pray. Amen.