Where Do You Seek Your Affirmation (Approval)?

[Tyk]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I stopped 'seeking' affirmation from people. There are many things I have learned in 50 years: You can't please everyone so you have to please God and stay true to yourself.

There are a few opinions that I care about but I can go without any of them.

Simple, to the point, but say's all you need to say.

I feel very much like you do (although I think i'm a tad younger!), but I would have wrote 5 paragraphs trying to describe it! I desire your ability to relay what you think or feel simply!

Originally Posted by Rhoni

I stopped 'seeking' affirmation from people. There are many things I have learned in 50 years: You can't please everyone so you have to please God and stay true to yourself.

There are a few opinions that I care about but I can go without any of them.

I agree with you Rhoni - I spent way too many years trying to "earn" the affirmation of people. I have had to learn that once I've talked something over with God I don't have to have affirmation from anyone else. I do, however, try to live "cautiously" as not to destroy my witness.

[OneAccord]

Great thread! I was actually think along these lines this morning. I thought of the verse Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

If by "affirmation" you mean "approval, acceptance", then I think everyone seeks affirmation to some degree. Sub-consciously, perhaps, but I do think we all want acceptance and approval by those around us. . I think that is the way we are designed, to seek harmony, to be a part of a community, which requires a certain amount of acceptance and approval. But, and this is a line from below (in bold) that I love, those who are "governed by grace" are in the spiritual condition of finding favour with people (and, more importantly, with God) and we don't have to seek it or try to earn it. "Governed by grace"- what a concept. Jesus didn't need to seek acceptance or approval of men and certainly not of Good, he found that favour due toi his spiritual condition.

FAVOUR (from Blue Letter Bible)

1) grace

a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2) good will, loving-kindness, favour

a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

3) what is due to grace

a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace

b) the token or proof of grace, benefit

1) a gift of grace

2) benefit, bounty

4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

[ChTatum]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I seek affirmation for my life from one source and one source only.


The Press!

Wasn't Word Aflame Press was it?

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by ChTatum

Wasn't Word Aflame Press was it?

You bad!

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Tyk

Simple, to the point, but say's all you need to say.

I feel very much like you do (although I think i'm a tad younger!), but I would have wrote 5 paragraphs trying to describe it! I desire your ability to relay what you think or feel simply!

Tyk,

Thank you but I get in trouble by telling the truth, keeping it real, and saying it out loud. Transparency has its drawbacks.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by jendouc

I agree with you Rhoni - I spent way too many years trying to "earn" the affirmation of people. I have had to learn that once I've talked something over with God I don't have to have affirmation from anyone else. I do, however, try to live "cautiously" as not to destroy my witness.

Jendouc,

I could cry reading this...because I feel your pain. There was a day it was very important to me what people thought and I worked harder, and harder, and harder. All I got was emotional distress, a divorce, and ungrateful saints, as well as children.

There are things that I know for sure and they came from God. The only place I feel secure is in his presence, and the only way I feel connected is in his presence.

As far as worrying about being a 'witness', I think we need to be careful to treat others as God would treat them, be merciful and forgiving...but in the forgiving we must forgive ourselves and not hide behind a facade to 'prove' anything to anyone.

Blessings, Rhoni