#PreApproved Writer of the Week: Karrilee Aggett
#PreApproved Sisterhood Series
Welcome to a new series, hosted here on the blog. Every Tuesday night, one of our PreApproved sisters will share her story on letting go of a love idol.
Together, we’re giving up our love idols, and we’re not taking them back.
We are already approved; we have nothing to prove. In Christ, we are #preapproved.
A Preapproved Christmas
Karrilee Aggett
It’s been nine months since I first read Love Idol and heard the call to lay down Self-Doubt.
By now I should’ve birthed something.
After nine months of laying idols down left and right, there really should be some sort of new life to show for it!
I would be less than honest if I told you that I was nailing this idol-free life every day. I am not.
There are still plenty of days that I find myself second guessing, hesitating, or backing away instead of leaning in. This is still a day–by-day walk of faith, but I agreed earlier this year to give up Self-Doubt for Lent. Here we are nine months later, and yes – there is something newborn-like about my daily living now.
Some days I feel needy, helpless, like I just want to be held. Some days I have All. The. Growing. Pains. and I’m hungry; everything feels urgent and hard. But when I calm down, and look to the One who has birthed this in me, I remember that no matter what, I am loved and taken care of.
So while I’m not nailing it, I am aware more often of when I begin to feel the urge to bow down, and seek approval or acceptance from love idols that do not satisfy.
“Until you are convinced of God’s incredible love for you,
you will continue looking for replacement love
everywhere but in the heart of Christ.”
~Jennifer Dukes Lee, Love Idol
Here’s the thing: We can be fully convinced of God’s incredible love for us, but still feel like we’re not enough. And if ever there was a season when that message is repeated over and over, it’s now – during the holidays! We battle the feelings of Not Enough at every turn. We fight feelings of comparison and competition and keeping up with the Joneses. It can leave us feeling less than, over-worked, under-appreciated, and stressed.
We can feel like we must keep on keepin’ on just to get through the holidays. It’s ok. I know. I’ve hunkered down and pushed through plenty of times myself. It’s survival mode and January promises quiet, even if it is accompanied with exhaustion.
Can I offer you something different this year instead? Can I urge you to lay down your idols? Let’s remember that Christmas is less about the chaos and all about the Christ. Let’s lay down the Love Idols that vie for our attention and devotion, and lift up the Love Author, who is the only One worthy of all our praise!
In refocusing on Him, He calls us to more!
He offers more… so much more!
“Jesus’ fathomless love
changes how you and I will live in our moments,
how we’ll love in our neighborhoods,
and what we’ll be known for in eternity.”
~Jennifer Dukes Lee, Love Idol
I don’t know about you, but more than hosting the perfect holiday party, or making the most Pinterest-worthy cookies or handmade cards, or giving the most sought after gift that will be tossed aside and forgotten sooner than we’d like to admit, I want to be known for Speaking Life… for Being Love… for Shining On. I want to be known for choosing the More that He offers and not chasing the More that never satisfies.
I want to be known for knowing who and Whose I am and living a life free of idols that tie me down or hold me back. Join me! Let’s welcome January rested and ready for whatever He has for us!
My name is Karrilee, and I am #preapproved.
Karrilee is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She is a writer, reader, pray-er, photographer, artist, beach lover, laugh seeker…serving God to the best of her ability. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and nearly grown girlie. She is passionate about diving in deeper with the Lord and inviting others to discover His love for them. Her life message is…Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On. Karrilee loves to share her heart and what the Lord is speaking to her over at Abiding Love, Abounding Grace.
You can connect with Karrilee on her blog, Abiding Love, Abounding Grace. She is also all over Bossy Social Media (and clearly has a love/addicted relationship with it!) You can find her on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram as well!
THE LOVE IDOL MOVEMENT
Click here to find out more about the Love Idol movement.
Click here to purchase the book that inspired the movement.
Click here to join us on Facebook as we lay down our Love Idols and declare our #preapproved status in Christ.
THE PRINTABLES
Click here to print the black and white preapproved cutouts.
Place these where ever your Love Idols have lurked!
A pink PreApproved printable: to frame, to put on your refrigerator, to give to a friend.
Click here to print. My gift to you, brave soul!
Karrilee This has blessed me again with being preapproved. And this preapproval has created a ravenous hunger for time with Him this Christmas season. I want life to slow down with children and sickness and cooking. I am desperate to be alone with The One who loves me.
Oh Diane… Amen, my friend! For in all the ways that we can ‘hunger’ during this time of year – this is the BEST way… to be ravenous for time spent with Him! (I’m with you on the wanting time to slow down… and how do we do that? Ann taught us to count gifts… of which we have so many! Merry Christmas! Praying you get some of that alone time with Him!
I want to be known for knowing who and Whose I am also. Love this message.
Amen, Mary! Isn’t it good to know that we are #Preapproved in Him? That assurance alone helps us to stand up in who we are… and yes, in Whose we are! Merry Christmas! May you stand tall!
I love the message of #Preapproved so much and it has probably been the biggest influence on my spiritual ife this year. And I certainly love me some Karrilee. So the two together made me so happy tonight. And your message, sister? YES! Yes to it all. Let’s do this together.
Aw… and I love me some Colleen! Amen, sister… let’s do this together! Love you so! Merry Christmas!
Karrilee, what a powerful, truthful and honest message, especially these lines, “So while I’m not nailing it, I am aware more often of when I begin to feel the urge to bow down, and seek approval or acceptance from love idols that do not satisfy.”
I’m also becoming aware more often, thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit, that my true heart’s long is for Jesus, His word and His presence. Only that can fill us.
God bless you!
Amen, Jody! It truly IS only He that can fill us! Bless you, friend! Merry Christmas!
Ahhh the struggle with approval addiction. Laying that down and knowing that only God can fill that empty hole in my soul is a process. Sometimes a daily process. Beautiful words from one with a beautiful heart. Merry Christmas Karrilee!
Amen Carmen… only God can fill! Praying He filled you to overflowing over Christmas!