How many ways do we try to look for validation in our daily lives? I mean, isn't that really what gossip truly is? Even if what you are spreading about someone is a fact and technically truth, isn't there a part of you that feels BETTER about yourself when you tell a friend about another person's "failings"? Why do we insist so much on getting validation from other people? I just think about in my own life when there has been some sort of conflict with another person...what have I done? I've gone to ANOTHER friend who is an outside party to try to get them to see MY side of things and then VALIDATE my opinion and tell me that I was in the right. This only further causes more division. ....Isn't that exactly what the enemy wants? He wants there to be consistent division in the Bride of Christ and no unity because He KNOWS what comes when a community lives as ONE BODY! So, why do we seek validation from anywhere other than the Creator who sees our flaws and still calls us CHOSEN, BELOVED, FRIEND, APPLE OF HIS EYE, and so many other wonderful and beautiful things? I think the Garden of Eden is the first place we see someone doubting who they were truly created to be, therefore needing outside confirmation. When the serpent approached Eve and planted the seed of doubt about God telling her and Adam the truth about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, what we are truly witnessing is the first time mankind questions purpose and identity. Doubt is just the outward action of a root of fear of not truly knowing WHO you are and WHOSE you are. All throughout scripture we can see our true character and who we were created to be described in verses such as Psalm 139:13-15, Jeremiah 29:11, Luke 12:6-7, and so many more. You see, if the enemy can get us to doubt who we are and whose we are then we begin to look for outward validation. Eve, by biting into the fruit, sought outside validation that she really WAS all of the things that Papa had been telling her as they walked in the cool of the day every day. We were given Papa's Word so that we can use it as a mirror and validate our TRUE IDENTITIES as sons and daughters on a daily basis. The word says that we are to encourage ourselves daily and it doesn't have a footnote that says "Also seek out validation from those you are around every day". No matter how encouraging people are that you have in your corner they are STILL human which means they are probably going to accidentally hurt you with their words at some point in your relationship so if you are leaning on THEM to ALWAYS validate who you are, you ARE going to be disappointed. But you know what? I know Someone whose words NEVER change and the way He feels about you NEVER changes and it's all written down for you to read about yourself over and over and over again!!! Thank you Papa for putting it right there in black and white for us!! I just want to encourage you to really dig into what HE has to say about you and let HIM be the One to tell you that you are always VALID!
James 1:23-25 The Passion Translation (TPT)
23 If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. 24 You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin. 25 But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do!
- James 1:24
