Living the Journey

Think for a minute of how many decisions we make every day that can be traced back to a fear of rejection.

• How frequently do we decide what to wear because of how we think others will perceive us?
• How many times do we tremble to speak in public because we don’t want to make fools of ourselves?
  
• How often have we decided not to hand someone a tract because we were afraid that it would be turned down?

Following is the first of seven Biblical keys (adapted from a training session by Bill Gothard) that we can apply to our lives to conquer the fear of rejection.

1. Do Not Love the Praise of People.

One of the basic needs in a person’s life is for recognition and approval.

We normally try to fulfill this need by doing things that will earn the admiration of others. However, this approach produces the fear of rejection. God’s way of meeting this need is for us to recognize and embrace our human weaknesses and allow God to do His great works through us.

Many chief rulers believed on Jesus, “but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43).

Instead of having the fear of man, which brings a snare (see Proverbs 29:25), we must learn the fear of God. The fear of the Lord is:

• the beginning of wisdom. (See Psalm 111:10.)
• the way to blessing (See Psalm 112:1-2.)
• the means of having our desires fulfilled (See Psalm 145:19.)
• the beginning of knowledge. (See Proverbs 1:7.)
• the secret to long life. (See Proverbs 10:27; 19:23.)
• the way we depart from evil. (See Proverbs 16:6.)
• the secret to riches, honor, and life when coupled with humility (See Proverbs 22:4.)

So what is the fear of the Lord? It has been defined as “the continual awareness that I am in the presence of the holy, just, and almighty God and that every thought, word, action and motive is open before Him and is being judged by Him.”

Instead of seeking to be approved by men, God instructs us to study to show ourselves “approved unto God”  (II Timothy 2:15). If we have desired the praise of men more than the praise of God, we must confess this as a great affront to the majesty and glory of God, and ask Him to forgive us.

Coming next Thursday morning . . . Key #2.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 6:00 am and is filed under Inspirational Insights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.