From Scotty Smith.
A Prayer About Freedom from People-Approval
We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
1 Thessalonians 2:4-6
Dear heavenly Father, it’s not just apostles who need to stay free from living for the approval of people, it’s all of us… it’s me. How can we possibly love very well if our need for affirmation is greater than our commitment to serve your purposes in the lives of people around us… family, friends, neighbors, even strangers?
As I look at my relational brokenness and sin, I can see how “man-pleasing” plays out in two directions. On one hand, there are those people, (metaphorically speaking!), to whom I attach my umbilical cord and expect them to give me life. On the other hand, there are those people whose umbilical cords I grab and plug into me, assuming the role of life giver. Oh Lord, what a mess I am… but what a merciful and gracious God you are.
Though it pains me to actually document my brokenness and sin in this prayer, the same liberating gospel you entrusted to Paul gives me the sweet freedom to do so. When we confess our sins to you, we’re not informing you of anything, Father, for you already know everything! We’re just acknowledging where we want the God of resurrection to bring life… the God of transforming love to effect change… the God of ultimate hope to replace shame with beauty.
Lord Jesus, I don’t want to live as an “approval suck.” I want to love others as you love me, and as you love them. It’s flat out wrong for me to give anybody the power to control me through their affirmation or their rejection. It’s because of your life of perfect obedience, that I can be free from living as a poser, pretender and performer. It’s because of your death for me on the cross, that I can live with the absolute assurance of God’s everlasting approval and his relentless kindness.
So, God the Holy Spirit, keep “gossiping this gospel” to my heart. Keep bearing witness with my spirit that I’m a beloved child of Abba, Father. Keep giving me the power to repent of all forms of living for the approval of people, a life-sucking snare, indeed.
So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ liberating name.
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