(original message sent via email 10/9/23)
Before I share this week's message with you, I wanted to invite you to join me to pray for Israel, however you feel lead to pray...
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Thank you.
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Below is this week's encouraging message for you.
Recently I caught myself making a poor choice and at the heart of my decision, I was trying to avoid this person's disapproval of me. I walked away knowing that I avoided saying what was best just to please the person.
Have you ever done that?
After making this choice, I remembered something my eyes were opened too at a women's group I attended this summer. During one of our group discussions, something really hit my heart. I realized that sometimes we may do what is wrong to belong, and avoid doing what is right in God's sight. This realization hit me as a person, and as a Mom. The desire to belong in life can be so strong, at any age, that we sometimes choose to go against our values and say or do things - or avoid saying or doing things - with the hope of gaining belonging/approval of a certain person, or a group of people. Since realizing this, it has helped me grow stronger within and more compassionate towards others, especially my kids. (Now I clearly see how some of their choices through the years has been about their longing to belong - which I admittedly didn't see at the time.)
I share this with you today in case you can relate on a personal level, and/or if you have kids - to better understand the why behind some of their choices. I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.™
May we remember that the desire to belong is innately in each of us. The truth is we already belong, as we are a member of God's family (-Ephesians 2:19). What can be challenging is that God is invisible and the people in front of us are visible. Therefore, it's very natural, and understandable, for us to seek to belong to what is seen rather than what is unseen. Yet moving forward let's flip it and pray to have a heart towards God first so He can help us make wise choices with our interactions with the people who are in front of us. This is easier said than done, but worth the practice.
As we move into this week, may we ask God to help us recognize when we find ourselves saying and doing things to belong or gain the person's approval - and open our eyes when we start avoiding saying and doing things to avoid a person's disapproval. May we pray to have the wisdom and strength to say and/or do what is right in God's sight, trusting nothing we say or do will change our belonging to His family.
And most importantly, if there is anything you keep in your heart this week is to remember that you already belong, in God's family...and in our Live from the Inside Out™ community.
To help you remember this week's message, click HERE for this week's FREE printable: 3 Questions to Ask Ourselves to Help Us Do What is Right In God’s Sight, and listen to this message on this week's Live from the Inside Out™ podcast HERE.
I pray you have a blessed week, friend!
With love and hope,
Shawn