By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/2720

Do you ever find yourself absorbed in the activities of life and wonder how you became so busy? Many people overextend themselves to the point of exhaustion. When asked why they are rushing here and there, they answer that they are just keeping up with the normal details of life.

As amazing as it may seem, it is not unusual to find people doing all kinds of unnecessary “work” in the church. Maybe they are trying to reach a level of acceptance in God’s eyes or seeking to please another person.

Striving to gain the approval of others is stressful at best. Trying to gain God’s approval is useless. This is because God has already placed His stamp of approval on your life and nothing you do can cause Him to love you more than He does right now. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you gain everything there is to gain of God’s love. Even before you were created in your mother’s womb, God loved you fully and completely.

This world has nothing of lasting value to offer us. All of our striving and rushing to gain approval results in only one thing: emptiness of heart and soul. Satan tries to make us believe that through our good works or our smart appearance someone will love us more. Nothing could be further from the Truth.

Don’t allow the enemy to entice you into believing you are unacceptable. God accepts you just the way you are. All He longs for you to do is to love Him with a whole heart. When you truly understand your acceptance in Christ and experience the everlasting love of God, you will obey the Lord as an expression of your love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me even when I act unlovable. Forgive me for the times when I turn away from You. I surrender my life to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).