A November to Remember: Following Christ, Not the Crowd
Today’s Scripture — 11.2.2014
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
~ 1 Thessalonians 2:4
“… we’re not after crowd approval–but God approval.”
~ Message paraphrase
We are called to be God pleasers, not people pleasers. And Good News! He already delights in you — beautiful, one-of-a-kind PreApproved you. You don’t have to work harder, do more, slim down, or climb higher to please the Lord. He’s asking you to abide in Him, to live a life hidden in Christ.
Live PreApproved today. You are loved.
#PreApproved
#MoreSoulLessScroll
#NovembertoRemember
This post is part of our month-long series, “A November to Remember: Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes.”
(Post includes excerpted material from Love Idol: Letting Go of Your Need for Approval – and Seeing Yourself through God’s Eyes
I’m inviting you to spend the next 30 mornings with me, as we listen to what God says about us, before we listen to what Facebook says to us. We’re after “More Soul; Less Scroll.”
How You Can Be a Part of This Movement:
1 – Print out the Scripture sheets. (Click here for printable versions.) Each of the 30 daily Scriptures are quoted in Love Idol, and each one ties back in some way to our identity in Christ. (You don’t have to read the book to participate in this study. But of course, you’re welcome to! 🙂 )
2 – Find the passage assigned for today’s date.
3 – Ask God to speak to you through His Word, and read the verses assigned.
4 – Consider how God is speaking to you. How does the verse help you remember who you really are, outside of all the cultural noise?
5 – Visit us on the blog, or the Love Idol movement page on Facebook, to share what the verse means to you.
6 – Share your insights on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or your blog, to add more soul to your scroll. 🙂 Tag me, so I can find you. (Or feel free to follow along silently! No social-media presence required.)
I’ll post my own response here on the blog every morning at 5 a.m. Sometimes, you’ll find a story, maybe a few short words, maybe a series of photos. That will happen every day, for all of November, God-willing.
Studies show that the best way to form a habit, is to NOT break the chain. Habits form if you keep at it, one day after the next after the next. After our 30 days, we may have created a new habit of Scripture before Scrolling — a habit that can take us into the Christmas season, and beyond.
Follow Along
If you want to follow along, visit us here every day. Consider subscribing to my blog by clicking here to get these reflections in your email inbox.
The Printables
(Download for printing from Google Drive)
November 1-15
November 16-30
A helper sheet for how to do “Pin God 1st” and what it means to pray the scripture (Lectio Divina)
Let this be the November that we remember who we really are: Loved. Preapproved. His.
Find all the posts in the November to Remember series by clicking here.
Just this morning, I have found many ways to say ” Lisa, God’s love for you endures, is faithful, true and worth seeking, sustaining.”
I love that, Lisa.
“please God” leapt out at me and led to a conversation with God about how pleasing God is not getting Him to like me (God already loves me) but it’s a response to being in love with God. Haven’t blogged about it yet. Not sure if I will blog today’s.
NO pressure to blog, Leanne. It’s a joy to have you on the journey, no matter what level you choose to participate. Have a great Lord’s Day.
What a blessing it is to know we have God’s stamp of approval! 🙂 Amen!
So true, Martha. Thanks for being here today. 🙂
Good news, Jennifer. I’m still ‘in’. Read the assigned Scripture yesterday morning, but didn’t even turn on the old laptop at all. Our Day 2 verse, I see, is preceded by 1:9 “…and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…” We are tested by God–Have I turned from serving others (for approval), serving self (for comfort), to truly serve Him from a heart that loves & serves ONLY the living & true God? Do I still seek to please people? Do I water-down or compromise the gospel so as not to offend others? Do I deny Him, in fear of what others will think or say? Am I afraid of losing friends?
All very tough questions for me. It is hard to ‘rest’ in the knowledge that He approves of me just because, when He is invisible and people are visible, right here right now ready with the praise we so want to hear. One thing I do know: people are fickle but God is always the same. Steadfast and faithful.
Not only are we approved by God but He trusts us with His gospel.