Category Archives: Acknowledge God
Antidote II
Ps. 27:10 “Even if my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.”
Most times, people that struggle with the pain of rejection, particularly from people they are most vulnerable to, start to think there is something wrong with them. If you are in this category then this message is for you. I am here to tell you that there is nothing wrong with you but something is wrong with them. It is possible that you have spent years trying to get your father’s approval. I am here to tell Read the rest of this entry
Antidote I
Isa.62:4 No more will anyone call you Rejected, and your country will no more be called Ruined. You’ll be called Hephzibah (My Delight), and your land Beulah (Married), Because God delights in you and your land will be like a wedding celebration [MSG]
When we look at life through the eyes of the “fear of rejection”, we are unable to see the hurt of others and so we miss opportunities to minister to people in need. Picture this, Sister A walks past Sister B in church and does not respond to her greeting. Sister B takes offense and throws a pity party in her heart – ‘how could she do that? No body likes me in this church! Look at her, who can even like someone with such a nose?’ As God would have it, they both boarded the same bus one day and Sister A greets Sister B so warmly and Read the rest of this entry
In Perspective
Isa.46:4 “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
I know what it is to be rejected so I have a soft spot for people that are going through rejection. You should too because even if you have not experienced it, the Bible says we ought to carry each other’s burdens. Sadly sometimes we are not empathetic. We have experienced help from God but we do not extend that same help to others. To banish the fear of rejection, I need to put God in first place, put people in their place, and put myself in the proper place.
Audience of One
Gal. 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” [with emphasis]
I choose a long time ago that only the approval of God will stand in my life. You cannot seek the approval of men and the approval of God at the sam
e time. What is it going to be – men or God? It is a choice you have to make, no one can do it for you. Choose to live your life for the audience of one – The One. Guess what? This One follows you everywhere. He is there with you when you are sitting at your desk, diving in your car, and surfing the Internet. The objective is not to scare you but for you to live for His approval.
Hiding Place
Isa. 51:12 “The Lord says, `I am the one who strengthens you. Why should you fear mortal man who is no more enduring than grass?'” [GN, with emphasis].
The first step in overcoming the fear of rejection is to put God in first place. The second step is to Put people in their place. Everyone in your life has a place. The key to peace of mind is to put people in their proper place. If you want to create confusion for your life, put your wife in your mother’s place or vice versa. You need to stop and realize that everybody has their place and then put everyone in their proper place.
Settle It!
Ps. 119:39-42 “Save me from the insults I fear . . . I want to obey Your commands . . . . Show me how much You love me, Lord. Then I can answer those who insult me.” [GN, with emphasis]
The Psalmist here is saying if God loves me, I can handle anything and anyone. The Psalmist was being vulnerable to God and owning up his struggles with approval addiction and the opinions of men. He was admitting that deep down he is afraid of what people really think. But he is saying, Lord if you will show me how much you love me all that will mean nothing. A major key to a wholesome life is being secure in God’s love.
Light House
Ps.18:1 “I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” [with emphasis]
Are you looking to man to be the light that brightens and brings illumination to the dark places in your life? Are you depending on a human being for protection or for energizing? Listen, you are setting yourself up for trouble. Even if the person is your spouse or your parent, you are still setting yourself up for trouble. There is no man or woman that is capable of being your light [illumination, protection and energizer], only God can. It is when you make God alone your light that you will have no fear. If you make another Read the rest of this entry
Line of Sight
Ps.27: 1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation. I will fear no one.” [GN, with emphasis].
Jn.12:42-43 “…many believed in Jesus. But they would not admit it for fear of the Pharisees… They were more concerned to have the approval of men than the approval of God” [Ph].
The last damaging effect of the fear of rejection that we will be looking at is: it Produces depression and unhappiness. Being more concerned about the approval of men rather than the approval of God produces depression and unhappiness.
A Snare
Prov.29:25 “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” [with emphasis]
Life always presents us with something to be afraid of. It appears that before every next level there is a fear to conquer. A young person dealing with peer pressure gives in to pre-marital sex. A lady, laboring under the yoke of her parents that say she will never amount to anything. A wife that continues to give in to the absurd demands of an abusive husband. A husband that continues to entertain and endure the damaging demands of his wife. The person whose schedule is overbooked because he or she cannot manage or say no to Read the rest of this entry
Do Right III
2 Cor. 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” [NIV, with emphasis].
Only a crazy farmer will buy three hectares of bare land and get angry because there is no crop on the land. A lot of people want to get out of financial challenges but are not willing to sow. Keep praying but prayer alone will not change the situation. This is another truth you need to know and action you need to take. You need to give. When you have a need you sow a seed. Why? There is a seed for every need and the seed will meet the need.
