Being still is possibly one of the hardest things for me to do. My parents tell me I’m ADD when we talk on Skype, because I have a hard time sitting there and just looking at the screen. I’m one of those people who always has to be doing something and that usually means I’m doing more than one something at any given time. Some friends of mine have also affectionately dubbed me ADHD, but I like to tell them that I’m not ADHD. I tell them I simply multi-task better than they do. Call it what you may but it all boils down to me feeling like I never am doing quite enough. I occasionally struggle to find my worth, and more often than not I seem to believe that doing more makes people love me more. I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way though. A book stood out to me today on the shelf at Borders; it was called “Approval Addiction”. Well! There’s a book some of us may need to take some time to read. We get addicted to others telling us we’re doing good and we constantly need that approval. I know that tends to be true for me. What if things started to change in my life, and only one person’s opinion truly mattered?
God has been trying to teach me this for years, and I guess I just don’t catch on the fastest. He’s teaching all of us the same thing; it’s not about how MUCH you can do and how many people approve of what you’re doing. It’s about loving God and loving others, and obeying what God tells you to do. I try too hard and I get burnt out quite frequently, and in that state, I feel like I’m not going to do as much good as I could. Sometimes I feel that God is just telling me to slow down and rest in Him; to enter into a deeper intimacy with Him. The more I rest and let Him fill me back up, the more I can give back to those around me. Resting and being still is such an important part of being in a relationship with the Father. He loves me when I spend time with Him and love Him, and He loves me when I give that love back to others. His approval means more to me than anyone else’s opinion. Doing more doesn’t mean God loves us more- He already loves us! How incredibly awesome that is!! I don’t have to earn love! It makes my heart and soul long to rejoice that this amazing God loves me, just for being me!
Psalm 23 (NIV)
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
God is teaching me to still my restless heart and just listen to Him. Everything else falls into place when I’m resting and listening to my Abba Daddy.
Casting Crowns- In Me
‘Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong
When I’m blind you shine Your light on me
‘Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don’t need me
How amazing to find that You want me
So I’ll stand on Your Truth, and I’ll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me
