Who will take the stage?
Who would you be , or how would you live, if you didn't allow the opinions of others to dictate you?
If you put your life under a microscope and you zoomed in to look as close as you could; would you see a life lived by you, or a live lived by the opinions of others? Sit back and think on that for just a few minutes.
That is an intense question isn't it? It's one that I must ask myself often. I am a confident and independent woman, who tries to live a life free of relaying on people’s opinions and approvals. However, sometimes I do not hit that mark. I have to constantly remind myself, that the only approval I need, is God’s . He has already given that to me, through His son’s sacrifice. An incident happened the other day however, that reminded me , that pursuing a life not altered by people’s opinions, is a life long process.
The other day, I was leaving work and I got stopped by a young homeless man. He asked me where the “Jesus Saved” building was, (which is the homeless shelter in the city that I live in). While I was giving him directions, two other homeless man in wheel chairs, came and cornered us. I use the word CORNERED, because that is exactly what they did. Anyway, the man I was giving directions to, went about his way and I was left surrounded by these two men. The homeless men in the wheel chairs asked me for money, which I was unable to give them. They understood and instead began to talk to me about their lives and other interesting facts on their minds. Just a side note, for those of you who do not know me. I have a heart for people, no matter their economic status. I particularly have a heart for the homeless community , so it does not bother me to talk and love on them. Anyway, I did not mind talking to them, but I was a little uncomfortable for two reasons. Reason one being, I don’t like being cornered and those men were talking about weird stuff. The second reason was, we were beginning to get stares from the business men and woman walking by. Some looked at me in concern and others looked on in confusion; as if wondering why this woman in her business attire was tolerating these men. I began to feel embarrassed and anxious. It wasn't my intentions to treat the men badly, but I showed my annoyance and ended our conversation quiet abruptly.
Let me go ahead and just pause right here…………. WHAT IN THE WORLD!
COME ON NOW MORIAH!
Why did I let the fear of what others were thinking, affect how my conversation with those men went? I had an opportunity that day to be the light of Christ and I am not sure if I succeeded. Those men needed me that day and I gave them the version of me that others wanted to see, not the version of me that God has made. I do not want to care or be affected by what people think about me. I just want to live the life that God has for me. I want to live free and unashamed.
In all honesty if I think about it, I do not know what those people were actually thinking. We as humans alter how we live and what we do, based on our assumptions of what must be running through the minds of others. In actually, people probably don’t even care and if they do, well that is between them and God. It has nothing to do with us. And just to clarify, I am not saying that people’s opinions are not important and that you should just run around, living however you want and not caring about others. That is just plain…. What’s a better word to use than stupid? I am just saying, people’s opinions good or bad, should not determine who you are.
Who would you be, or How would you live if you didn’t allow the opinions of other to dictate you?
Would you be kind to that person, that others overlook?
Would you do the dance, when everyone else is embarrassed?
Would you believe in your self and go for your dreams?
Would you wear the dress?
Would you laugh out loud?
Would you smile at people when you passed them on the street?
Who would you be?
Take a moment and think about that....... And then take the rest of your life to strive to be that person.
Prayer if you need it:
Father God,
I ask that you continue to teach me not to live for the approval of people. Remind me that you approved of me already. Help me to live free and to live for you.
I pray for the people who happen to read this post. Lord I pray that they will begin to live their lives in true freedom. Lord I pray that they live in your approval and not for the approval of others.
In Jesus name I pray Amen.
- Moriah
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