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A Prayer for Freedom from Our Man-Pleasing Ways

 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? Gal. 2:11-14 (NIV)

Dear heavenly Father, I am so thankful this story has been captured in your Word, for it deals with a struggle we all face, man-pleasing; and it reveals the way of freedom—living in line with the truth of the gospel. Cephas’ (Peter) weakness is one I’m all too familiar with.

Father, I confess there are times when what people think about me has more functional power over my day then what you think about me. When I’m not living in rich fellowship with you, disapproval and criticism, being left out or not being appreciated, can impact me way more than it should. Likewise, being included, affirmed, and celebrated (all good things), can feel too good, and I can fall into being an affirmation-junkie.

Father, help me to increasingly live “in line with the truth of the gospel”—that is, more consistently with the riches of grace and the freedoms you’ve given us in Christ. May your desire for me, and delight in me, free me to be a servant of all men, and a slave to none.

Free me to be far more concerned to welcome others than hurt when I’m left out. Free me to accept criticism humbly, without becoming defensive or going to self-contempt. Help me to take back the power I’ve given some people to either “make” me or break me, with their praise of me or their indifference towards me. Free me to love others as Jesus loves me. So very Amen I pray, in his holy and heart-liberating name.

 

 

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