AM I NOW TRYING TO WIN THE APPROVAL OF HUMAN BEINGS, OR Of GOD? OR AM I TRYING TO PLEASE PEOPLE?

28/07/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10, NIV

Be the Best You Can Be
It’s easy for us to go into the proving mode, trying to outperform someone else, feeling less-than because you’re not like that person. All that’s going to do is wear you out and take your joy. You’re trying to prove something that you don’t have to prove. You’ve entered a race that you’re not competing in. Walk in your anointing. You already have God’s approval; you just need to walk in it. When God made you, He threw away the mold. He stepped back and said, “Look, another masterpiece.” You don’t have to keep up with other people. If you’re getting your value out of how you measure up to your peers, you’re going to live in this proving mode of working harder, trying to impress, and that’s a never-ending cycle. Get off that treadmill. You don’t have to be more popular than your friend, more athletic than your brother, or more successful than your cousin. That’s not your race. You’re not competing with them; you’re competing with yourself. Be the best you that you can be.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can come to You for all the approval and love that I need to live securely. Thank You that You call me a masterpiece and that I have no reason to prove my worth to anyone. I’m going to be the best I can be by Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

PART TWO

There is truly no other god who can rescue like our God. Whatever circumstances you might be thrown into, our Lord Jesus is the fourth man with you in the midst of the fire. Notice how He didn’t stand outside of the fire, but was in the fire together with the three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

This brings a whole new meaning for us when we read the verse, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6, boldface mine). Our Lord doesn’t deliver you from afar; He is with you in the midst of your adversity. Call upon Him and He will answer you. When Jesus is with you, nothing can harm you!

Don’t you just love how the Word of God describes the three friends when they came out of the furnace? They were in the fire, but it had absolutely no power over them. It did not even leave a trace of smoke on them! Now, that’s a beautiful picture of God’s divine protection!

Beloved, as you call upon the Lord in your day of trouble, my prayer for you is that the trial you are going through will have no power over you; it will not even leave a smell on you. Instead, I declare in Jesus’ name that you will walk out of that challenge in your life and the only smell on you will be the fragrance of the Lord Jesus (see 2 Cor. 2:14)! And as the people around you witness how the Lord delivers you, may they come to know His wonderful name and give Him praise. Instead of being negatively affected by whatever trial you might face, I pray that you will receive honor and promotion just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Amen!

https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/no-smell-of-smoke-on-you