Why do you do what you do? The cars, the jobs, the degrees, the clothes, the money (or appearance thereof), the relationships, the houses…why are you pursuing certain things and people? Do you think these things will fill a void in your heart? Will they make you feel more important? Will they give you the appearance of being blessed? Will they make you popular?
In America today, both inside and outside of church, there is so much focus on status and things. The one with the biggest house, the most cars, the biggest fan base, etc. are considered as having “made it” or being richly blessed. At the end of the day, it’s mostly about the appearance to others and sometimes even just to ourselves. Let me just tell you, it is impossible to fill spiritual voids with earthly things. Until you understand and acknowledge that you are already full in Christ, and that everything else is merely a bonus, no matter how big or small, you will lose yourself in this world.
A lot of people want to be well-known, but they don’t want to do the work that goes along with it. People want to be rich, but don’t want to learn how to manage money. Anything worth having takes work and sacrifice, period. And understand that whatever you did to attract that person or thing from the beginning, will be the same thing that you’ll have to do in order to keep them. So if the person you met was attracted to your money, don’t ever go broke. If they were attracted to your size, clothes, etc., the moment you change any of those things, the likelihood of you losing that person’s attention becomes greater. If you deceived your way into a job or business deal, you will have to maintain that deception for as long as you can. If you sacrifice your beliefs and standards in the beginning, you will inevitably be held to those subpar standards going forward. Is it really worth spending your life in your own prison while someone else is holding the keys?
I’m not saying that having things is bad; however, I am saying that you will lose yourself in the pursuit of things and the attention of others. The more you attempt to use those things and people to fill the voids in your life, the greater the dependency you will develop on them. And then, you will no longer be in control because your moves and decisions will be based upon how you think others will react. As well, you cannot submit to both God and the world simultaneously. So not only do you lose yourself, you also miss out on what God has for you. In the end, you actually end up losing more than you intended to gain.
Galatians 1:10 says, “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.”
My challenge to you today is to really sit and meditate on why you want the things that you are pursuing. Are you simply trying to please people, including yourself, or are you living a life fully surrendered to Christ. And be honest with yourself if you really want to be set free. As you identify the roots of your desires, ask that God would reveal His fullness in your life. Ask Him to stir up a passion to do His will instead of just having a passion to pursue things. Surrender your life to Christ, and everything else will take care of itself. You don’t need to pursue things or please a crowd. You have everything that you need in Christ. Meditate on Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seek to please God, the most loyal audience member you will ever have.
Live free!
Arianne
Don’t forget to check out my website www.ariannemockabee.com and my first book: Destined to Fly: The Pursuit of Purpose
The Butterfly Garden 