What Question Is Driving Your Life?

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
(1 Samuel 13: 13–14)

Early in my ministry, I was invited to pray at a prestigious university convocation. It was a significant opportunity, but I was encouraged to keep my prayer generic, to avoid mentioning Jesus, and to make it acceptable to everyone in the room. At first, I gave in and prayed a safe, watered down prayer, and immediately I felt convicted. When I was asked to give the benediction later, I made a different choice. I prayed boldly in the name of Jesus. I may have lost future invitations, but I settled something in my heart that day: I would not trade obedience for approval.

All of us are driven by questions. Saul asked, “Do people like me?” Absalom asked, “Am I important?” David learned to ask, “God, are You pleased with me?” Saul allowed the pressure of people to push him out of his place of obedience. He stepped into a role God hadn’t given him and tried to accomplish in the flesh what required faith. We face the same temptation. We can become so focused on what people want us to be that we lose sight of who God has called us to be. The question driving your life today can determine the direction of your life tomorrow.

Don’t exchange a lasting legacy for a temporary shortcut. The enemy would love to use insecurity, impatience, or the desire for approval to loosen your grip on your calling. Don’t give up! Stay obedient when the waiting gets difficult. Hold tightly to what God has entrusted to you and refuse to let today’s pressure sabotage tomorrow’s purpose. Instead of continually asking, “Do people like me?” learn to ask the question that matters most: “God, are You pleased with me?”

Bold Step Challenge:
Identify where the desire for someone’s approval is influencing you. This week, choose obedience over applause and ask, “God, are You pleased with me?”

Prayer:
Father, help me desire Your approval above everyone else’s. Give me courage to stay faithful to my calling and strength to resist compromise. Teach me to trust and obey You, even when it costs me something. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: Don't Give Up!

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