“There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes.” ― C.S. Lewis
As soon as I read this quote I knew I would be choosing this picture taken at the Chimes Tower in Longwood. Life is seriously good these days. A time is come of great accomplishment. Whether the world ever sees what I do or not hardly matters. I am where God has ordained me to be and that is my first and greatest joy! I feel like I am somehow escaping the snare of fear of man and approval addiction I have long struggled with!
Have you ever struggled with approval addiction? What helps you overcome it?
Lillie-Put 
A very wonderful happy today , Pastor J! I think God has had to keep working on me about the approval thing . . .and keep putting me in situations that many don’t approve of! Then I only have Him to look to. :). God bless you!
Amen!
For the first 22 years of my life I knew I didn’t have the approval of anyone, so I never sought it.
Then, when I became a blood-bought, adopted child of the living God, I knew I was precious to Him but I knew this was not because of any good in me. He changed me and I knew I was changed, but I think I looked for approval from others because I needed to prove that I was different.
Acceptance and approval is one of the basic needs of humans. However, when we become “accepted in Christ” we should not need acceptance from anyone else. We are accepted by the omnipotent, almighty, creator God! What else can matter? Yet, if we are honest, we still do seek approval from others.
I believe that freedom from “the snare of fear of man and approval addiction” comes when we k.n.o.w. that we are walking and working in God’s will. As you say, when we know we are where He wants us and doing what He calls us to do, nothing else matters.