I was consumed in justifying myself apart from God, and it left me worn out, tired, and empty. Every day, I would run as hard as I could trying to find value and worth in everything else but where it was all the time—in God. I looked for it in the approval of my father, my mother, in others, in two marriages, in money, in achievement, in position and in power…I’m sure there are more places.

I spent so much time pursuing acceptance in these places that I lost everything that mattered. I became the sum total of all the expectations that I placed on my life giving up my identity, my true self just to belong. I discovered that many of the places I looked for love and acceptance never truly accepted or loved me back. What I did discover in the journey out of the midnight of my soul was that loving God is what my heart desired and what’s really awesome—He accepts me for who I am and…loves me back.

Approval of others is not my life. My performance is not my life. Others approval of my performance is not my life.

Jesus is my life!

We were created for love and approval. It’s foundational to the health of our hearts and so often we look for that love and approval from broken dysfunctional people, stuff, etc. I’ve learned this hard lesson….its crazy, because we spend so much time and energy looking for this love an approval everyplace else except in the loving arms of a God who is crazy about us.

I have tried just about everything except drugs and here is what I learned on my journey. Love and acceptance comes from God and if it doesn’t, you will live a life of desperate mediocrity. You will be destined to walk it out on the road of guilt and rejection.

What are you seeking approval for?

Choose to be real over being liked, or you will live a life of mediocrity. Takes courage to be authentic! It takes courage to live from your heart!

Pick up a copy of Heartstone today!