Approval – Addict

I need detox! I have been weary and I have asked God to tell me why am I so tired, worn out and exhausted. Is it because I have been doing more than He's called me to do? Question is then: why am I then, doing more than He's called me to do? Do I need to be validated? Do I want to earn man's approval and taking His for granted?

Therefore, I'm going to prayerfully consider this as an undertaking as I do the '12-step program':

Step One, I admit I've been a 'people-pleaser', that I'm powerless over my tendency to try to look good to others and therefore my life has become unmanageable.
Step Two, believe that the Lord will restore me to sanity, hallelujah!
Step Three, make a decision to turn my will and my life again over to the Lord (I'm feeling better already)
Step Four, make a searching, thorough, and fearless moral inventory (what's in me that thinks it's so important to impress others)
Step Five, admitted to God, to myself, and to another the exact nature of my 'wrongs' (basically the self-seeking actions to appear 'fly' -  oh, does anyone still say that!)
Step Six, become entirely ready to have the The Lord remove all these 'wrongs'
Step Seven, Humbly ask Him to remove my shortcomings (the fear and everything I do in fear)
Step Eight, make a list of all the persons I have or am harming and become willing to make amends to them all (and get real)
Step Nine, make direct amends (apologize) to those persons wherever possible with the Lord's leading
Step Ten, continue to take personal inventory (self check ups) and when I'm wrong promptly confess it
Step Eleven, seek in prayer and meditation to improve my relationship with the Lord, and pray earnestly for knowledge of His will for me and the power to carry it out
Step Twelve, having experienced 'recovery' as a result of these Steps, I will share this message of 'recovery' to other 'Approval Addicts' and to practice these principles in every area of my life. Amen!

Whew, looks like I have some work to do, but thankfully, recovery is possible!

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4