Silent Applause and Vacant Accolades
Café Menu for Friday, March 4, 2016
Today’s Special:
What Are We Really Living For?
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Aj Luck
Main Ingredient:
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 NIV
Entrée:
This week’s topic is about audience, applause and grand championing.
What if…
What if we had no one cheering us on in our efforts to share Jesus?
Would we still do our very best and live a life pleasing to the very One who created us?
It’s an honest question. It’s one I have wrestled with personally over the past 12 months.
Last year I completed, then published, my memoir.
It is my personal story of abuse, mistakes, and broken dreams. It was a difficult book to write, as I had to become extremely transparent on the page.
Before I decided to publish it, I had an honest conversation with my husband. Together, we prayed.
I had to settle my heart before my King about the true purpose for writing this book. I did not write this book for fame or fortune, far from it actually.
I told God that if publishing my brokenness would encourage even one person, then it would be worth it and a total success. Settled.
We signed the contract and published the book with only an honest prayer that at least one person be encouraged. We prayed that they would believe they are loved unconditionally, despite the curve balls life has thrown their way.
I still stand by that today.
We can NOT live our lives for the applause or accolades from others. We must live our lives for the One who gave us life. At the end of all this crazy adventure called life, it’s His opinion and ONLY His opinion that will matter.
Be you. Be the YOU God intended for you to be all along.
Song lyrics excerpt from Big Daddy Weave’sAudience of One
“To my audience of one
You are Father, and You are Son
As your spirit flows free
Let it find within me
A heart that beats to praise You
And now just to know You more
Has become my great reward
To see Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
I only desire to be Yours, Lord”
Take Out:
Write out a prayer to our Creator.
Ask Him to show you if there is any hint of selfish ambition or need to be approved by anyone other than Him inside of your heart. If so, ask Him to evict those things from your heart and fill those vacated places with a greater measure of His presence.
Dessert:
Dear Jesus, I love You. Help me to realize that You are always with me. No matter how loneliness or pride may try and draw me away from You, keep me close by Your side. Remind me that it is You and You alone who approves of me and orders not only my steps but my day for You and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2016 by Aj Luck. All rights reserved.
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