Normally, when I’m out for a walk in the mornings, I listen to books that have been recorded on Audible. It’s a great way to double down on my “reading.”
Yesterday, I finished the current book (Bob Goff, Everybody Always – outstanding!!!), so turned on a little music to occupy my mind as I completed the last of my miles home.
I found myself zoning into the words to this song from Natalie Grant, and they ran through my head all day.
Even as I woke in the “night watches,” one line kept repeating itself:
Here’s a You Tube link so you can take a listen… More Than Anything.
On the road to #bebrave, this is a powerful prayer.
Powerful, because most fears are grounded in divided loyalty.
Not all.
Most.
Last week’s fear was no different.
Last week I zeroed in on a fear that, if we are all honest, we struggle with as a whole:
It may have been phrased a bit differently, but it is the same animal.
In actuality, that bondage I spoke of is rooted in the fear of man.
It’s probably the most common fear for us all.
I am no exception.
As much as I have tried to overcome it, fear of man is a sleeping giant who raises his ugly head and intimidates me often.
I fear rejection,
disapproval,
betrayal,
failure.
I fear being ignored, invalidated, disliked, and unloved.
Here’s how those sub-fears manifest themselves:
I try harder, work longer, power-up….or, in a few cases, give up altogether.
I eliminate guardrails; and, let others drive my doings.
I attempt to re-create myself in the image I imagine the other person wants me to be…
I self-protect.
And, much of the time, isolate.
I fill my mind with negative beliefs, get defensive, and sometimes, now and again, I get angry.
The sage of Proverbs wrote these words (obviously, he struggled):
Sounds pretty bad.
It’s even worse, when you look at the word picture for “snare.”
It’s more than a trap; it is a noose.
A noose to hang something by; or to lead away – like a leash.
Literally, the Old Testament word meant a hook for a nose.
But let this sink in…
In fact, as a counselor, I’ve seen the repercussions of many a soul, who’ve been led down paths they never saw themselves going, and ended up in deep, dangerous waters….all because they wanted to please people.
Honestly, seeking approval is truly addicting.
We keep chasing it, always needing more.
What’s the answer?
It appears to be the standard Sunday school response: Jesus.
Trust Jesus.
Hide ourselves in Him.
Place ourselves fully in His arms, His will, His WAY…
The Apostle Paul must have been acquainted with this fear.
In Galatians 1:10, he wrote:
The trust-answer for Paul shows up in the source of his approval.
Indeed, the answer was Jesus.
So, he switched allegiances from man to THE GOD-MAN.
Here’s the hard truth…
The gospel of Jesus had changed Paul’s life (just start reading Paul’s testimony in Galatians 1).
Almost immediately he had eyes to see that the gospel of man is distorted, corrupt…perverted (Gal 1:7)…
To place my hope, my security, my identity in any INDIVIDUAL or group of individuals is to trust a gospel contrary to Jesus.
But to trust in Jesus is to trust His LOVING heart toward me.
And, to trust the Jesus who is love, is to cast out fear, and place us on the road to #bebrave.
When the gospel truly grips my soul, I understand Jesus death, not only saved me from eternity, but gifted me with a new identity.
His love gave me a whole new set of “I AM’s”.
Here are a few:
I am a child of God (Jn 1:12).
I am justified (Rom 5:1) – just as if I’ve never sinned.
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6.19-20); I belong to the Lord, and have been given great value.
I am a saint (Eph 1.1).
I am blessed (Eph 1.3-9).
I am redeemed, forgiven, chosen and blameless (Col 1.14).
I am complete in Christ (Col 2.10)
I am God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16).
I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-21).
I am seated with Christ in heavenly realms (Eph 2:6).
I am His workmanship created with good purpose (Eph 2.10).
I am able to approach God’s throne with boldness and confidence (Eph 3.12).
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom 8:28).
I am lavishly (that’s how the Lord wants us to feel) loved in the riches of His grace (Eph 1.7).
When I understand the fulness of His love, and the new identity He pours out into me, there is only ONE I TRULY WANT TO PLEASE.
This week, in one of her twitter posts Lysa Terkheurs made the following statement. There is so much truth in it. Let it soak into your soul:
