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12.05.2012

Weekly Bible Study {week 9}

So, today is time for my Weekly Bible Study. I'd love it if you could join me and link up with your answers to my questions and thoughts on this topic!!


Something I have been feeling recently in my life is not caring what others think of me. I have SO much trouble with this. I often wonder how people see me and what their true thoughts of me are. I get so caught up by trying to impress people and wanting to make them like me I forget to just be myself and be a true and honest me.

God doesn't want us to be caught up in other people's view of us, but He wants us to be truthful in who we are and be ourselves and not worry what others think of us.

I Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Galatians 1:10
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

 I Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

But here we also see this verse...

2 Corinthians 8:20-21
For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 

simple cookie decorating for ChristmasThrough these verses we can see that God doesn't want us to focus our thoughts totally on what others think of us and only that. We see that in the last verse that we should be concerned of what others think of us, but we shouldn't only focus on that. We want people to approve of us and that is something that is valuable, but when those views of others overtake us and let them define us, that is when it becomes wrong. When all we do is focus on how others view us, that is taking it too far and we should remember to remain humble and true to who God made us to be. We shouldn't let others views of us measure ourselves. We aren't here to please others, but we are here to please and honor God.

So, here are the questions for this week:
1. Do you have a negative self image of yourself based off other people's view of you?
2. Do you focus mainly on what others think of you instead of what God thinks of you?
3. Who in your life do you seek the most approval from?
4. Does your attitude and view of yourself change when others seem to approve of you? if so, does it last very long?
5.  What is your definition of approval? 

Well, I hope you enjoyed the questions and the post!! : ) I thought I'd post my answers to the questions I asked.....

1. Do you have a negative self image of yourself based off other people's view of you? Yeah, I sure do. I often feel unloved by many people and just feel "used," unqualified and rejected for who I am. I often feel like others don't accept me for who I truly am and just want to make me a different person or just want to be my friend or talk to me because I'm the only person around.

2. Do you focus mainly on what others think of you instead of what God thinks of you? Sorry to say, I do. I focus more on what others think of me than what God thinks of me. I think it is hard because I can't always feel God's love for me and I can't experience it like I can with actual face to face people.

3. Who in your life do you seek the most approval from? Wow, hmm....I seek approval from my family mainly and people I come into contact with often. I don't seek approval as much from those I don't come in contact with, but I do have to say I do seek approval from everyone around me, but some are more than others. 

4. Does your attitude and view of yourself change when others seem to approve of you? if so, does it last very long? Yeah, my attitude does change when others seem to approve of me- especially when it is people I've been trying to feel accepted with. It brightens up my day and makes me feel special. I'd have to say it probably lasts a few days. But those moments sure don't come often (at least in "face to face" life)- blogging friends encourage me often though!

5.  What is your definition of approval? Well, I'd have to say approval is showing that you accept a person just for who they are and love them just because they are who God created them to be. When they do something stupid or dumb, you still love them and accept them with all their quirks because their positives overtake their negatives. You see that God loves that person and you too love them because they are something special in your heart, just as they are special in God's.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the answers!! Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to link up too!!

6 comments:

  1. I can't tell you how much I struggle with this! I would like to think people like me, but I'm not really sure. :/ It's confusing, but I agree, our focus should be pleasing God, not other people.

    The verses were really encouraging, Thank you. :)

    <3

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    1. Thanks Hannah- I'm POSITIVE people like you!!! I'd love to have you as my best friend, you sound like such a nice friend!! Thanks for your comment!!

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  2. Britt, I really think Laura's post on her black and white blog would help encourage you. Also, do you know that when people in your life show you love, it is also one of God's ways of showing you love? I pray that God will just fill your life with his love, and that he will make it very visible to you, and that you will experience his awesome and amazing love for you.

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    1. Thanks Lissie for your comment!! I have gone over to Laura's blog before, but recently I've gotten sidetracked, so thanks for mentioning it. I really enjoyed her posts- they were so encouraging!! Thanks for your comment- it was so inspiring and really blessed my day!

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  3. Britt, I know how you feel! Your answers to the questions are ones I would have put down too! We really do need to concentrate on what God thinks of us. Everyone. And He loves us just the way we are! Thank you for posting this, Britt!!!
    <3Heidi

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    1. Thanks Heidi!! Glad that you enjoyed it, thanks for dropping by!!

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