Spiritual Growth – Page 20 – REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES

In MY VICTORY VOYAGE I’m sharing the trials I’ve faced and how God’s faithfulness carried me through. Join me on the 2nd Friday of each month in 2025 as we reflect on His restoration and grace.

These days, it’s easy to feel like we’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. News headlines scream for our attention. Social media draws us into the never-ending scrolls. Even our own thoughts can feel loud and distracting.

In a world so full of noise, how do we stay focused on what matters?

For me, this is more than a question—it’s a battle I face daily. I’ve learned that what I choose to focus on shapes not only my attitude but also my peace, my purpose, and even my perseverance.

That’s why my life verse has become an anchor in these turbulent times:

This verse reminds me that what surrounds me—confusion, injustice, heartbreak—is temporary. But what’s unseen—God’s love, His promises, His kingdom—is eternal. That’s where our gaze must rest.

But let’s be honest: fixing our eyes on the unseen isn’t easy. It takes intention. It takes grace. And sometimes, it takes starting over again each morning.

Lately, I’ve been asking God to help me refocus. Not just to try harder, but to trust deeper. To take my eyes off of what’s going wrong and lift them to what’s already been made right through Jesus.

When I choose to look up instead of out, everything shifts. I remember that I’m not alone. I remember that this world is not my home. I remember that victory isn’t just possible—it’s promised.

And maybe that’s the secret to focus: it’s not about perfect attention, but about persistent direction. Keep turning your eyes toward Jesus. Keep aiming your heart toward heaven. Keep remembering that what is seen is temporary—but what is unseen is eternal.

Call to Action:
This week, take a moment each morning to pause and fix your gaze. Open your Bible before you open your phone. Look for signs of God’s presence, even in small things. Whisper a prayer when the noise starts to rise.

Keep resetting your focus… looking up… and turning your eyes to Jesus

On the fourth Friday of each month in 2025, we’re studying The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee. Join me as we confront the enemy’s lies of self-doubt and find our victory in the truth of who we are according to God’s Word!

We’ve already uncovered some big truths together in this study, and I’m so glad you’re continuing the journey. In Chapter 5: Approval Addict, we shine a light on one of the most common struggles for women—the need for others’ approval to feel worthy or loved. If you’ve ever found yourself saying “yes” when you really wanted to say “no,” or feeling crushed by someone’s disapproval, this chapter speaks directly to that deep need and offers a better way forward.

Summary: Chapter Five – Approval Addict

In this chapter, McGee addresses our craving for acceptance and the pain we feel when we perceive rejection. Many of us live as though our value depends on what others think, becoming people-pleasers, chameleons, or emotional wrecks when approval is withheld. This addiction to approval stems from a false belief: “I must be approved by others to feel good about myself.” But Scripture tells a different story—God’s acceptance is unchanging and not based on our ability to meet human expectations. True freedom comes when we begin to live from God’s approval, not for people’s applause.

“When we trust in others to affirm our worth, we give them the power to control our emotions and identity.” – Paraphrase from Robert S. McGee

Biblical Truths

Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? … If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
- We must choose God’s approval over people’s opinions.
Romans 15:7 – “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
- Our acceptance of others should flow from our own deep security in Christ’s acceptance of us.
Isaiah 51:12 – “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass?”
- Fearing people’s opinions dishonors the comforting authority of God’s voice in our lives.

Key Idea

We don’t need human approval to be valuable. God’s acceptance of us is complete, unshakable, and not dependent on our behavior or popularity.

Reflection Question

In what situations do you find yourself craving others’ approval the most, and how might embracing God’s unconditional acceptance help you walk in more confidence and peace?

Practical Application

Approval Detox Journal: Keep track of moments when you change your behavior to gain someone’s approval. At the end of each day, write a short prayer releasing those moments to God and thanking Him for already accepting you.
Say No with Love: Practice setting one healthy boundary this week—say “no” kindly, knowing your worth isn’t diminished by disappointing others.
Affirm Your True Identity: Speak this truth aloud daily: “I am already accepted by God. I don’t need to earn anyone else’s approval to be valuable.”

My Personal Reflections

This chapter really hits home for me. For much of my life, I’ve been someone who wanted to be liked and appreciated. I can look back and see so many times I said “yes” out of fear that someone would be upset if I didn’t please them. And when I didn’t get that approval? I’d spiral into self-doubt, feeling unloved or unworthy.

But God has gently and consistently reminded me: I am already fully accepted by Him. When I really sit with that truth, I can feel the chains of people-pleasing loosen. I don’t always get it right—but now, I’m more aware. And when I catch myself looking sideways for validation, I turn my eyes upward instead. His love never wavers. His approval never fades.

Sisters, if you’ve been caught in the cycle of seeking affirmation from others, I pray you’ll rest in this truth today: You are already fully accepted in Christ. You don’t have to earn approval. You don’t have to be everything for everyone. You can simply be who God created you to be—loved, valued, and seen by Him.

Next month, we’ll continue with Chapter 6: God’s Answer – Reconciliation, where we’ll learn how God’s acceptance sets us free from fear of rejection and draws us into deeper relationship with Him and others.

Until then, rest in this beautiful truth:
You don’t need to perform or people-please to be loved. You already are. 💗