Addicted to Approval
Addicted to Approval by LaKisha M. Johnson
Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I don’t know when I became addicted to approval, perhaps it was when a little girl, and people told me how smart and how beautiful I was and how successful I would be. Or maybe it was from the first time I felt rejected, unworthy or unprotected. I used to think it was because I didn’t have my father in my life when I was younger, but as I have gotten older, I have realized God, has always had a surrogate (grandfather, stepfather, father etc) for me, someone in my life to speak life into me. I didn’t realize I had an addiction, to making people happy based on a false sense of insecurity, until I started choosing people over God’s plan for me.
Wise is the man that build’s his house on the rock, the word of God. Foolish is the man that builds his house on sand, the word of people. If we build our house on people, we are not building on God, and people have become our god. Narrow is the road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13), your road, the path for you, isn’t going to be by popular or majority vote. You can’t continuously wait on people to say, you are ok, or yes, this is your way, or I am good with you. People are like sand, and if you build your house on people, when they get up, your house will fall in. But if you build your house on the Word of God, and His will for you, you will not fall.
There are some things that come with being addicted to approval you can find them here in these two articles. You may need some help, getting out of it; however it has to happen get out of it, so you can finds God’s best for you.
https://www.joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers/ea-teachings/breaking-the-approval-addiction
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/prescriptions-life/201310/how-stop-people-pleasing
Prayer: Father thank you for a sobering Word, for showing me the places in which I have chosen man over you, you are the chief cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16) and our trust needs to always be in you, so that we won’t be panic stricken. Holy Spirit, show us how to reset the relationships in our life, so we can become all we need to become for you, Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen
LaKisha M. Johnson is mom, author, motivational speaker, minister and teacher. She is the host of Coffee and Conversations on “facebook live” Monday-Friday at 5:00 am central standard time and Saturdays at 8:00 am central standard time. She hosts a pajama party for women, “Pillow Talk” several times throughout the year, walking them through God inspired truths, while providing a place of vulnerability and transparency to talk. To find out more information on her log on to lakishamjohnson.com and follow her on social media @justbeinglmj.