Take another look at the Focus Verse above.

God states that you are “holy, blameless, and above reproach.” Not just in eternity, but here and now.

You are totally acceptable to God. Right now while you sit at your screen and read this.

You don’t have to win His approval. You don’t have to earn it, it’s yours.

For years I struggled with this idea. I just could not accept that I was acceptable to God and tried desperately to earn His approval and that of others.

I used to be so wrapped up in what others at church thought about me I tried to check all the right boxes. Church on Sunday. Check. Tithed. Check. Church clothes on. Check. Bibles in hand. Check. Volunteered enough. Check. I was doing what Matthew 5 said not to do, I was doing all these things to be seen by men. I was so concerned about their approval and that they thought I was a good Christian.

However, knowing who I am in Christ has truly freed me from seeking others’ approval. I’m no longer concerned about what my friends at church might think of me. Yes, I still go to church on Sundays, but if my child’s ballgame is Wednesday night, I recognize that we might make a bigger impact by shining Jesus’ light on the ballfield than at church that night. And I’m okay with that.

Yes, my family still dresses nice, but if my son insists on wearing the same shirt every Sunday, it doesn’t bother me.

Yes, I still help out at church, but if I know God wants my focus elsewhere right now, I’m not worried that others are thinking I’m not doing enough.

This freedom from the approval of others because of God’s approval of me, gives me a confidence I didn’t have before. I’ve before mentioned how the school moms still intimidate me, but through this study I’m getting better. Just this morning I went to the school for an event and didn’t once worry about what the other moms might think of me. For me that’s huge!

The funny thing is, when we’re confident in our standing with God, we not only give grace to ourselves, but it allows us to give grace to others around us. When we aren’t so wrapped up in gaining others’ approval, were not so worried about them gaining it from us either.

This week as we learn about how we are totally acceptable to God, let’s begin by discussing: How did you identify the lie, I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself, in your thinking? What distressing emotions, such as anger or fear, enabled you to recognize the lie? How did you respond?*

Additional Resources: 

This book is intense and can be a lot of information. Because of that, we will take a two week break and begin again on Monday, Oct. 26th. This would be a great time to catch up if you’re behind. wink*

*Taken from the Search for Significance leader’s guide