March 12, 2018
What do they think of me?
Kelly Balarie
Today’s Truth
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. (John 6:38, NIV)
Friend to Friend
I care a lot about what others think. If you commented that you didn't like this devotional, I admit my feelings would probably be hurt. If I invited you to a party and you didn't respond, I'd wonder what I did to offend you. If I was excited to see you at church, and you turned the other way to meet another friend first, I'd feel let down. If I had plans to do great things with God, but you questioned the details, I'd consider a new direction. I’d look away from God.
Ever noticed? With our eyes on everyone else’s intentions, opinions and afflictions, it becomes hard to look up to God. Looking upwards when your head is cast downward in defeat is never easy. Even worse, with our eyes to the floor, the glory of God passes overhead, unobserved.
Yet, I don't want to miss out on God. I want to be intimate with Jesus. Don't you?
With this in mind, I wonder, what the secret is to letting go of man so I can grab hold of God?
I've discovered, I must remember these three things:
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Jesus didn't come to do His own business, or even man's business.
Jesus came to do the Father's business. This is vitally important. God's will isn’t for us to be the rescuer of man's every emotion or the fixer of every problem. His will may be that we let people do as they do so we can wait on God and observe what He is about to do.
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38, NIV).
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Jesus didn't let man's opinion disqualify Him.
While Jesus certainly could have been thrown off by the continuous trial-like questioning of the Pharisees, He chose to keep His eyes on the Father's plan and to keep walking. Jesus didn't give up His calling because of other people's questions.
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Today's rejection is tomorrow's renewal.
Ask yourself, “Why? Why do I feel so hurt right now? What am I looking to get from man that God already gives me in full?”
When we do these three things, the God who is Faithful reminds us that He is faithful. We remember how He never fails to be an ever-present help in a time of trouble.
Then, we relate and minister to others from a heart of fullness rather than neediness.
Let’s Pray
Father God, You love relationship. You love to see Your children connect with a heart of love. Help us to come to You more, so that we can come to others with a heart full of You. We need You. Thank You that you teach us through our pain. You are faithful.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’sYourTurn
Consider a problem in your life that is distracting you from God. Examine it in relation to the three points above. How does it change the view of what you are confronting?
More from the Girlfriends
Kelly Balarie, blogger at Purposeful Faith and author of "Fear Fighting: Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears" is passionate about joining hands with women who often find themselves stuck in the pits of life. Step-by-step, word-by-word, her dream is that together they can emerge better - fear, fret and panic-free. Get all of Kelly's Purposeful Faith blog posts by email for a dose of inspiration and encouragement.
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