“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s not uncommon or even unnatural to desire the approval and affirmation of others. But it can definitely cause us to miss the mark in our walk with Jesus. His approval should be so important to us, that the approval of others is forgotten.

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“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our world laughs and weakness. The kingdoms of man celebrate arrogance; strength; confidence. But the Kingdom of God is built on surrender; humility; suffering. And when we embrace this element of the Kingdom of God, we enter into a realm with God, Himself, can bring victory and success.

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“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭12:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Hebrew language of this verse has a powerful image of anxiety forcing someone into idolatry. When we allow our worries and the cares of this world to overwhelm us, we are driven to our knees in worship of false gods.

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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

For a people who has lived their entire lives around the worship and sacrifices in the Temple, their expulsion from this Temple challenged everything they believed about a YHWH and how to enter into His presence. But the writer of Hebrews encourages them to grasp the truth that their High Priest existed before the Temple, and He will remain after it is destroyed.

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“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What do Dr. Strange, Thanos, and the Avengers have to do with trusting God in the midst of our worries and anxieties? I’m glad you asked.

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“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Do you have someone in your life that only tells you how great you are? And even more importantly, do you have someone in your life who loves you enough to tell you there are things in your life you need to change? The second person is so much more important to have than the first.

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“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

While we can and should receive promises like these on an individual basis, the hope we gain from them is based on the promise that YHWH is the One True God who will defeat His enemies and restore His people. We may be in exile now, but our exile will end.

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Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7:38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When He speaks these words, Jesus is standing in the Temple promising the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, when YHWH will literally take residence within those who follow Him. This is an awesome promise.

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“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we are honest with ourselves, we admit that the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous don’t. If you feel this way, you’re in good company. This psalm is for you.

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“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Because we’ve inherited 2,000 years of Greek thinking, we have a hard time understanding what Paul is saying we should fix our eyes on. It isn’t the “sweet bye and bye.” It’s the literal, physical Kingdom of God.

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