Challenge 44. Blog 27

Three Compliments

As I talked with a client during a recent coaching call, he complimented my coaching and writing in specific ways, and he thanked me for what I do. I thanked him for his encouragement, and then I shifted the conversation back to him and his needs. No big deal.

Later that same day, another client complimented my coaching and writing. Interestingly, her comments were uncannily similar to my conversation with the male client.

The next morning, a third client repeated almost exactly the same things.

After the third time, I wondered if perhaps God wanted to say something to me. Immediately, I strongly sensed God’s smile and approval. Furthermore, at that very second, outside my office window, a golden ray of sunshine burst from behind a raincloud, and a juvenile egret strutted toward me across our landscaping, stretching his long neck within two feet of my window and then twisting his head to peer piercingly at me through his left eye. I had recently written a blog, entitled “Dream, Grow, Fly,” in which I told a story about a juvenile, illustrating how God wants us to dream, grow, and fly into our Christian calling. (Click here to go to that blog.)

All of God's signs together—the Holy Spirit’s warm feeling of approval, the sudden golden sunshine, and the juvenile egret reminding me again of God’s desire that I fly in my calling—flipped a switch inside me. God really does approve of me! Yes, me. I don’t always do what He wants, but He saved me, I believe in Him, and I am His child, fully loved and approved.

He smiles over me. God smiles over you.

What does the Bible tell us about God’s approval?

How do we get God’s approval?

What difference would it make—in my life and yours—if we believed the astounding truth that God approves of us?

Biblical Proof: God Approves of You

Breaking News: God approves of you, and He approved this message. Actually, that's not accurate. That's just a cute slogan I made up because of the current election season. 🙂 

The truth is that God approves of you, and He wrote this message!

The Bible says that God does indeed approve of us, not because of what we do for Him, but because of what Jesus did for us. The book of Hebrews describes this:

• What can we say that we have discovered about our ancestor Abraham? If Abraham had God’s approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.”…But the words “his faith was regarded as the basis of his approval by God” were written not only for him but also for us. Our faith will be regarded as the basis of our approval by God—each of us who believe in the one who brought Jesus, our Lord, back to life. Jesus, our Lord, was handed over to death because of our failures and was brought back to life so that we could receive God’s approval. (Romans 4:1-3,23-25)

Did you catch that? God approved of Abraham because Abraham believed God. God approves of us because we believe in His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Verse 25 above says, Jesus “was brought back to live so that we could receive God’s approval.”

God also says this:

• You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)

In this verse, God essentially says, “I want you. I choose you. I appoint you. I will make you fruitful.”

Furthermore, God not only approves of us, He also delights in us. He rejoices over us, and He even sings over us:

• For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. (Psalm 149:4)
• Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights. (Isaiah 42:1)
• The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

But What About Seemingly Contradictory Bible Verses?

What about Bible verses that sound like God’s approval of us depends on our good works? Here’s one of those verses:

• Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
• For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. (Romans 14:18)

The context of these verses—and others like them—refers to God’s approval of specific actions. In these verses, God tells us what actions He approves or disapproves, not what people He approves or disapproves.

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 affirms that God approves of us because of our faith in Jesus:

• Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. (Hebrews 11:1-2)

Why God’s Approval Matters

Children crave approval from their parents.

We crave approval from God.

Sometimes we might worry that approval and compliments will make us less humble or proud. But indeed, healthy approval—whether from God or from other people—decreases our hunger for the wrong kinds of approval and builds us up in transformationally powerful ways.

Even Jesus wanted His heavenly Father’s approval, and the Father gave it to Him:

• After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, we are God’s children, fully approved by Him:

• For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15)

How God’s Approval Transforms Us

I am absolutely convinced that God spoke His approval of me through my three clients, because each one complimented my coaching and writing in almost exactly the same way. God wanted me to know that He approves of me and what I am doing. He wanted to encourage me.

And just so I wouldn’t doubt His approval, His sunshine spotlighted His juvenile egret, who strutted toward my window and tilted his big left eye toward me as if to say, “Yes, I’m talking to you! Dream! Grow! Fly! I created you for this life and work!”

That very minute, I had been writing a blog about discovering, confirming, and using spiritual gifts. God’s unmistakable approval—communicated to me in such a personal way—filled me with confidence and excitement, so that I obeyed His prompting to take new and exciting growth steps for using my spiritual gifts in the future. I ended up adding those steps as illustrations for the blog I was writing! (Click here to read that blog.)

How to Hear God’s Approval

1. Read God's transformational truth in the Bible about His approval of you.

Although God does not approve of everything you do, He does indeed approve of you, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you and your faith in Him. Review the sections above, “What Does the Bible Say About God’s Approval?” and “Why God’s Approval Matters.”

2. Recognize God’s approval through other people's compliments.

When people compliment you, realize that God often speaks His approval through them. Stop to recognize, receive, and respond to His uniquely personal approval.

3. Ask God how He uniquely approves of you.

It might feel awkward to ask God how He approves of you—like you’re trying to manipulate Him, or like you’re fishing for compliments. But rest assured, He wants to speak that kind of transformational truth to your heart. You could even admit to Him that you feel weird about asking. But ask Him anyway! Wait for a word from Him, or a memory, a sign, a Bible verse, a feeling, etc.

4. Because we know biblically that God fully approves of us because of who we are in Christ, we can be confident that He will indeed bless us beyond measure:

• The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:26)

May God indeed bless you as you step out boldly and confidently in His approval of your life and Christian calling!

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