This may sound weird, but during some time with God this week He has impressed on my that my faith is too internal. I need to be living and sharing my faith more externally—in the open. I don’t know about you, but this has always been tough for me (which is why I am sharing it here…so that this too is out in the open). I need and seek the approval of others far too much and this keeps me from sharing my faith as openly as I should—after all, someone might think I’m a freak or something!

This is just one of the many character flaws God continues to work on me. There is no doubt that I am a “work in progress” and sometimes I feel sorry for just how much work God has to do.  But I am listening and I am willing to allow Him to transform and change me (and I am willing to do my part too). Sometimes it is painful. It was hard just to admit that I seek the approval of others sometimes more than God’s.

Of course, He helped me on this point with several Scriptures on the topic and He is so faithful through the process of shaping me (it rarely happens in an instant…the process is important). Here are the passages in case you’re curious (and want to read them for yourself). I’ve included the phrases that dig the deepest but you should read them in full too:

1. Psalm 19:14 – “…be pleasing to You…”
2. Romans 2:29 – “…seeks praise from God, not from people.”
3. Galatians 1:10 – “…win the approval..of God…”
4. Galatians 6:8 – “…live to please the Spirit…”
5. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 – “…please God not people.”
6. I Thessalonians 4:1 – “…live in a way that pleases God…”

Think maybe he was trying to get my attention on this topic? If you are so inclined…pray for me about this. God isn’t finished yet…