Approval (Blessing): Building up or affirming another person, particularly for who they are (as opposed to what they do); affirming both the fact and the importance of our relationship with another person.( Ephesians 4:29; Mark 1:11)
How might God use us to show approval to those in our church family, (believers), at work, friends, in our neighborhood…etc..? God often uses us to affirm character qualities we see in each other.
Do you have a friend, neighbor or co-worker that you can bless with your words of approval for what they mean to you? For example: “I am so blessed to have you as my friend” or “I am so glad we are apart of the same church family” or “You are such a great co-worker. I really enjoy working together.” We can build up those in our world just by our words of approval.
Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Here is how we can show approval to those we know, even those outside our family.
Let’s choose LIFE!
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Approval
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
Approved by God! Yesterday, Today and Forever! Amen!
Would you incorporate this section of the 52 Week Plan into your daily quiet times with God this week? Let’s search these scriptures on His approval and ask God to show us personally how scripture applies the same for us today as it did years ago.
- Jesus was approved by His Father: Matthew 3:17
- Jesus approved of others: Luke 7:9-10
- You are Valuable: Ps. 139:13-16, Eph. 2:4-9, Eph. 1:3-5, Matt. 6:25-34, Rom. 5:8, Rom. 8:32, Is. 49:15-16
- Acknowledged for who you are, not just what you do: Titus 3:4-7, 1 Sam. 16:7, Eph 2: 8-10
- He is satisfied with you: Zep. 3:17, Ps. 147:11, 1 Peter 2:9, Gen. 1: 26-31
Enjoy your time with HIm friends!
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do:
Proverbs 15:4: The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue. This little part of our body has the power to give life to someone’s soul or tear down and crush them. It amazes me, the power of our words.
A friend of mine once told this story.
My friend asked students to come up and take some nails and bang them into a piece of wood. He said, “These nails are our words that we speak to one another. Sometimes our words are angry and what we say is meant to hurt the other person. Then after we are angry we realize our words were not the kindest.”
He then invited students to come back up and remove the nails. “I am so sorry for what I said to you,” He said as the students removed the nails.
He then held up the piece of wood. My friend said, “Even though we regretted the words we said in anger, apologized for them, the words still left holes in the other person. Just as we took the nails out of the wood, the wood is forever changed by those nails.”
Let’s choose to use our tongue to Bless/ Approve and to be a tree of life to those around us instead of crushing their spirit and leaving holes.
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with Believers and Others: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
My husband and I have the amazing blessing to work with couples. We hear and see the hurts, as well as, the blessings they carry around within them. Often what we see on their faces is not what is going on in their hearts. They put on their best happy face but inside they are deeply hurt and alone.
Imagine what our words can do for someone with whom we are privileged to share life? Often, we go into the office, we see our neighbor at the mailbox, we have lunch with a friend, etc… God may choose to use you to speak blessings/approval into them. Will you look for an open door to do just that?
We all need approval. To feel affirmed and wanted. You just might be the one God will use to turn a hurting heart into a “real” smile on the outside.