Attention, Acceptance, Approval #388

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Attention, Acceptance, Approval #388

Have you ever watched a child do a cartwheel in the living room, hit a baseball or draw a picture and then immediately look toward their father? They want to see if he noticed.

Now that I'm a grandpa, I hear my grandsons constantly say, "Dad, watch this." They want his attention, so he knows he's watching them. The funny thing is, I don't think we ever outgrow that desire.

Lately, I've realized three words keep showing up in my prayers because deep down I want to know: Does God see me? Do I have His attention? Do I still belong to Him? Am I moving in the right direction? This is real because in a few short weeks, I'll close one chapter of my life and begin another, so Attention, Acceptance, and Approval matter to me.

Maybe that's why I love the story of Nathanael so much. He was looking for God's attention, too. Long before Nathanael ever met Jesus, Jesus had already seen him sitting under the fig tree. Finally, when they met in person, Jesus said, "I saw you.” Then something changed in Nathanael’s heart. He went from feeling alone to knowing that he was seen. Could it be that what we need to hear most isn't a long answer from God but just that He sees us?

I believe that every person wants to know they’re wanted, accepted, and belong. Now, I realize that God calls us His children, but we still long to hear, “You are mine and/or I chose you.” When we believe that, then we stop feeling like we have to earn a place in God’s family because we’re already a member of it. But a reminder is nice too.

The last word is approval, and this may be the one I struggle with most. I find myself waiting for God to approve the next step before I take it. All of our lives, we have been taught to perform first, then you’ll get approval; however, when the need for approval dominates you, you’re left standing still. When I feel down, I remember that Jesus Himself received His approval before His accomplishments, sermons, or miracles when He stood in the Jordan River and the Father said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." So if we've been baptized too, then we should be encouraged to move because God's approval is already ours through Christ. Even so, there are still days when hearing, "You're on the right path," would be nice.

The more I think about these three words, the more I've realized they aren't separate at all. We have God’s attention because He sees us. We belong to Him because we believe, and His approval reassures us that we don't have to earn what He's already given.

So if you’ve felt stalled because God hasn't spoken, or you’re trying to get His attention and earn His approval, just remember that God sees you. You belong to Him. And because of Christ, you are loved.

Stop striving long enough to receive what your Heavenly Father has been offering all along. His attention. His acceptance. His approval. Go live your legacy that He’s calling you to live today.

If you want to live a legacy, then visit lighthouselegacies.com to learn how. Also, check out the Living Your Legacy Podcast.