My Turn Love Inside Out partner Jim posted this on our blog today, and I wanted to share it with you all here:
"last night a few of us fleshed out rick’s thought that fear is often the result of misplaced dependency, which are ways we seek identity, purpose, love, identity, acceptance, life, worth, security, meaning, value, happiness outside ourselves in external things as opposed to depending upon the life of Christ within.
we fear failure because we have a misplaced dependency upon “success” for value and worth.we fear rejection because we have a misplaced dependency upon other’s opinions of us for acceptance.
we fear financial loss because we have a misplaced dependency upon money for security.we fear abandonment because we have a misplaced dependency upon significant others for love.
we fear God because we have a misplaced dependency upon a false God who measures his favor and blessing in our life against our performance.
we fear aging or physical setbacks because we have a misplaced dependency on our physical appearance for worth and acceptance.
we fear honesty because we have a misplaced dependency on an image of having it all together for a sense of identity.
we fear being a nobody because we have a misplaced dependency upon being a somebody for a sense of purpose and meaning and value.
we fear…Christ says, “I AM the bread of Life.” in other words, Christ’s Life which dwells within us, is the Bread that fills and maintains our need and desire for identity, purpose, love, identity, acceptance, life, worth, security, meaning, value, happiness, etc…we seek all of this outside ourselves, and yet it is fully available in every moment inside of us through the life of Christ - “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” so, we walk in dependency upon the Bread of Christ within us."
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1 comment:
Anne, this is very thought-provoking. Interestingly, one statement particularly jumped out at me. This afternoon I had a discussion of a similar nature.
"We fear rejection because we have a misplaced dependency upon other’s opinions of us for acceptance."
A friend and I were talking about "popularity" among peers. I admitted that I want to be "liked". I really do but there is something deep within me that doesn't make this top priority. It falls behind sometimes making "unpopular" decisions. Of course, in making these decisions, one tends to fall downward on the popularity list.
It is by the grace of God alone that I am able to be obedient to these "decisions" because every time I am criticized, the rejection hurts...still. Truth be told, I desire acceptance. Who doesn't?
Except Jesus. His example teaches us that our main concern on acceptance lies in the acceptance of our Father. Everyone else is secondary...or not necessary at all.
The whole post is good. I plan to study it a bit more a little later. Thank you for sharing.
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