Devotional - seeking approval in the modern world

“But, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." -2 Corinthians 10: 17-18

Do you ever get wrapped up in the idea of making yourself or your business look better?

Social media is filled with amazing photos and stories that make even the most mundane things in our daily lives look exciting. It can be a lot of work keeping up with the demand to show your “best self” on every platform.

Do you ever get tired of that?

I sure do.

To be honest, there was a time, in the early days of social media, when I actually enjoyed posting little snippets of my life and using it to build my brand because I believed it gave me and others a feeling of connection and purpose. But lately, it seems to have gone way beyond that and has become more of a burden than a blessing.

Sometimes, it makes me feel anxious just thinking about it!

Maybe you’re feeling it too?

So, let’s give ourselves a little break from all that...

Will you join me?

Take a deep breath in… and release it… as you feel that tension melting away...

Do this as many times as you need.

And, now, for the next few moments, let’s allow our minds to drift away from the pressure of having to present ourselves or our brands in a certain “perfect” way and, instead, reflect on what 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 says about this:

“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
It’s true that the psychology behind the “like” button is powerful but “boasting in the Lord” is what brings true satisfaction, contentment, and connection.

To have a true sense of our identity and purpose in this world, our focus needs to be on God and all the good that He has done… and continues to do in our lives.

While there is nothing wrong with wanting to share our blessings with others, we must also keep things in the proper perspective, knowing that the only approval we really need to seek is that of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

So, our prayer today is this:

Lord, give us humility so that we never feel the need to portray ourselves as better than others and give us confidence that You are the one who gives us identity. Through You, we are renewed both in mind and spirit. You know us fully and love us unconditionally.

Your approval is what matters.

Who will you be seeking approval from today?

(Today’s post was inspired/adapted from a meditation of 2 Corinthians 10: 17-18 on the TT app)

With love,
Tracy & Born to Fly team