Afraid of What Others May Think

Some of you may know if you've been keeping up with my blog or facebook that our family has been re-evaluating and changing a lot of the things we have been doing in order to give the honor back to God in our lives and in our home that He so deserves such as limiting outside influences of the culture, re-evaluating our motives, heart, attitudes, and even the more obvious things such as the movies we watch and the clothes we choose to wear. Many of the changes our family has been making are not viewed as being very popular among our culture, even in the Christian culture, many of the changes we have made may even seem too old fashion or rigid.

Up until recently, I have caught myself hesitating in some aspects because of what people might think, even though I know that I am to be a pleaser of God and not men.

As I was reading Proverbs chapter 5 this morning, God spoke to my heart through this verse:

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.

What God spoke to me through this verse is that while I may be judged by others for being old fashioned for the way I dress (yes, I took the plunge and have committed to dressing more modest that includes ridding my closet of anything that draws attention away from the person who I am on the inside, essentially, I want to be seen for the person that I am not what my clothes are clinging to). We may also be seen as old fashion for ridding our home of cable/satellite service and focusing more on spending quality time with our children by playing games, crafting, laughing, having Bible study, and just plain having fun (time which the television used to steal from us, even though nothing was ever on anyway!). So all that to say...others opinions are just others opinions, those same others are not going to have to answer to God for the choices that I made in raising my family and living my life, I will.

After pondering on this for some time, I still can't help but think how simplistic this proverb really is and yet it's so natural for us to all feel like we fit in somewhere. The thing is, however, is that we DO fit in, with God that is, if we're seeking and walking in His ways. What God put on my heart is that not only will I have to answer for the choices that I am making but that I should only be striving to please an audience of One, not many.

The reality is, is that we will all have to give an account to God for our sin. I am so thankful for Jesus' completed work on the cross and that He took the punishment for my sin so I could go free. I do not choose to be seperate from the culture to gain favor from Him for that is impossible. I simply choose to honor Him because He is my Creator, Savior, Reedemer, and King. I choose to honor Him out of love and respect, rather than out of obligation, for obligation does not bring true joy or honor.

So while I love my family, friends, fellow believers, and all those who are lost unconditionally, I am primarily focused on simply honoring God in walking the path He has called me to.

From here on out, I choose to not be afraid of what others may think, for what they think is not between me and them but rather between them and God.