Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
5/4/2021
Addicted to Approval…Is that You?
We look at the world and we see these sculptured bodies. Six-packs, curves without an ounce of fat…beautiful and magnificently dressed and it is pounded into our minds as the perfect body, the perfect look, and the perfect example of who we should want to be. Cinema…TV…Walmart.
King David’s closest friend was Jonathan and after he died it was left to David to care for his son. Mephibosheth was lame and lived in shame, embarrassed about how he looked and his image of himself. Did you know when our self-image is poor, we often choose surroundings that seem to mirror how we see ourselves? People often let themselves go and do not even try to dress themselves up or take pride in anything they do.
They live this self-defeated lifestyle. It could be as simple as someone feeling awkward around other people or seem to say the wrong thing. They may feel less educated, perhaps their reading isn’t the best which means their comprehension may not be the best when in conversation with others. They may feel like the clothes they wear are inferior or they are not pretty enough or have a mole on their face or any number of less than perfect features. There is always this comparison of all those who are prettier, smarter, or more popular and have friends. It hurts because they do not have any. They feel alone and unaccepted, so they don’t venture out or try to make new friends. They have been rejected so many times and many of them are lost in their own misery. Those fears continue to grow until they become this mountain of rejection and loneliness and their hurt is beyond bearing.
Mephibosheth responded by hiding and avoiding the very people who could have helped him, just like we do today. No friends, feeling rejected and so alone, we create this little world of self-pity and fall into this pit of despair. Tears come by the bucket full all because of the way they see themselves. But that has never been God’s way. He is known as the man of sorrows. He knows your pain and he sees the blood flowing from your broken heart.
How many of us do the same thing? We will not take our authority in prayer, or even listen, let alone receive the blessings of God he freely offers because of the way we see ourselves. It is another lie we have come to believe, and it has become truth to us! We assume because we see ourselves in this negative manner, that God and everyone else must see us the same way.
The story of MEPHIBOSHETH is told in 2 Samuel Chapter 9:
He could have gone to David and claimed what was legally his. But he would not or was so wounded, could not. One Day David sent for him and sat him at the king’s table like one of his own children, in spite of his lame feet.
People with a limp and imperfections can still be blessed by God.
Your limp won’t stop him from loving you.
Zephaniah 3:14-17 “Behold at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you. I will save the limping ones and gather the outcasts and remove them from their shame and will make them a praise and He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
This proves that God wants to bless those who would appear to be outcasts, those with limps in their life. God has decided to gather them and bless them.
It is his promise to cast out the enemy who in many cases is
shame, blame, and disgrace. Are you listening?
God doesn’t want you to experience or fear rejection anymore. He actually wants you to enjoy yourself. Believe that through Christ you can do all things. That you can walk into any assembly and hold your head up because you are a child of God.
“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was.
The present worse than it is.
And the future less resolved than it will be”. Marcel Pagnol
God’s word says it differently:
Is 49:15 Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
So, take a moment and re-read the scripture. He wants you to accept YOU… why? because God made you and he accepts you. He wants YOU to love you because HE loves you. He wants to teach you how to accept and love yourself because of who HE says you are. You are beautifully and wonderfully made with a limp. If God is ok with that and wants to bless you, why wouldn’t you trust God and take him at his word? Jesus Loves you and you need to start loving you too.
Glorious Day-Kristian Stanfill/Passion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s4UblPViiI
