Focus on Your Inner Life and Overcome Your Need for Approval
I recently realized I have been an approval junkie for most of my life. It’s not that I didn’t know I wanted validation from others, but I didn’t comprehend the extent of my addiction. Consequently, it’s been a bit mind-blowing to view various decisions, attitudes, and beliefs through my fresh awareness.
Colossians One
For example, I recently read Colossians 1, and the phrase “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him…” jumped off the page to me. I sensed this urgency within my spirit for someone to affirm I was living in a worthy manner. No one was nearby, so I mentally wandered through a hastily created imaginary list. I examined my behavior to determine if I measured up.
The passage in Colossians 1 has been eye-opening for me. Paul is writing to the church in Colossae. He begins his letter with a typical Paul greeting of “grace to you and peace from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:2) Then he expresses his gratitude for them and their faith (Colossians 1:3-8). Next, Paul explains his prayer for the Colossians.
Paul’s Prayer
“… we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.”
Colossians 1:9-12
Paul didn’t give the Colossians a directive to live more worthily; Paul informed them of his prayers for them. He asked God to fill them “with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Paul emphasized God’s Spirit filling the Colossians; the Spirit would move, teach, and reveal and as a result, the Colossians would live a life worthy of the Lord.
Focus on Our Inner Life
Does that ease any pressure you might place on yourself? My spirit experienced a huge sigh of relief because my desire for approval has always sent me striving to do more and be more! We must be more concerned with being filled with the knowledge of God’s will, then striving to be viewed as worthy, or excelling at the Christian life. Our focus is on an inner life more than an outer life. We gain the outward expression of a life lived worthy of God when we direct out attention toward building an intimate relationship with the Spirit.
We live the Christian life backwards when we live according to a need for approval. Too often, we center our attention and our energy on doing instead of experiencing the presence and wonder of God. We must learn to be attuned to the Spirit, so we gain His insight and understanding.
Rely on the Spirit
Read the scripture passage again. Did you catch that God is the one filling us with the knowledge of His will? God is the one who provides wisdom and spiritual understanding. God also strengthens us with His power which enables us to endure and be patient. Certainly, we are to be welcoming recipients of what God wants to do in us. We struggle because we have an inner toddler demanding “I do it myself.”
Truthfully, we can’t do it on our own. We are incapable of living worthy of God with our own abilities and in our own strength. Therefore, we must rely on the Spirit to give us knowledge, clarity, understanding and strength.
The Benefits
It’s interesting, when we stop trying to do everything on our own, we release our need for approval. Instead of striving to be valuable, we enjoy the value of collaborating with the Spirit. We release the stress of figuring everything out on our own, and rest in what God brings to the table. We focus on delighting in the relationship instead of attempting to prove we are something we are not.
Year of the Word
In January, I challenged you to view 2023 as The Year of the Word. I encouraged you to intentionally get to know Jesus in a deeper way this year. When we invest in knowing Christ more intimately, we are focusing on our inner life. Allow me to ask some questions. How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you investing in your relationship with Christ? Are you carving out time to be with Him, to learn from Him?
Or are you trying to live a life worthy of God all in your own strength?
If you continue to read Colossians 1 you will learn the following things.
- Jesus holds all things together (verse 17)
- Jesus is to have first place in everything (verse 18)
- Jesus presents you holy and faultless before God (verse 22)
- We must remain grounded and steadfast in our faith (verse 23)
- Christ lives in us, giving us assurance of someday experiencing His full glory (verse 27)
- God’s strength works powerfully within his followers (verse 29)
Paul continued to remind the Colossians that trusting the Spirit is where strength, peace, and hope are found. Paul shared truth about God to encourage the people of Colossae to center their attention on their inner life.
Tune in to the Spirit
Allow me the privilege of reminding all of us, God already says He values us and approves of us. He sent His One and Only Son to die so we could have a relationship with Him. Plus, He gifts us His Spirit so we can know His will and understand spiritual things beyond our human ability to comprehend. God provides all we need to know The Word and live a life that makes Him proud. He does all the heavy lifting, and we get to enjoy and experience life with the Lord.
Like Paul prayed for the Colossians, I’m praying for you. I’m asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will, and the understanding of how much He delights in you. I’m praying you will grasp the richness of spiritual things more and more; that you will be amazed at how your life outwardly reflects the love and grace God has been revealing to you in your inner life. I’m praying God will bless your life with abundant fruit such as patience, kindness, and gratitude as you mature. Plus, I’m praying you will recognize God’s goodness and glory found in every moment of every day.
And all God’s people said, “Amen.”
Graffiti Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash
