Voices. They tell us who to be and what to do. Most my life I have suffered from people-pleasing-disorder. Part of it is good, because I seek to keep peace and harmony among people. But, often it means that I so value approval that I settle.
As a child I never had my hair cut. My Dad liked my hair long. My mom liked my hair long. And all my friends couldn’t imagine me otherwise. For sometime I started to want to have it cut. But, I could hear the voices in my head. I heard what each person would say and didn’t want to face it. I wanted their complete approval. I wished and dreamed that some accident would just happen that would tear or ruin my hair so that I would have to get a haircut. It didn’t happen. But, finally at age 16 I had it cut to my shoulders. One of my friends cried, but other than that all was well.
Now, the struggle isn’t over my hair but I can still have it in other areas. I recently returned from living overseas in North Africa for 15 months. While there it was easy to succumb to to a performance mentality. There was always more I could do; I had teammates and leaders to please, family and friends to report to. I couldn’t sit without hearing the voices in my head. But, there was a way out. If I simply listened for the Spirit His gentle whispers gave me all the approval and guidance I needed. Everyday I had the choice to listen to the voices or to the Spirit. I bought the necklace above, as a physical reminder, that I’d rather follow the Spirit.
In John 12 there were many chief rulers of the Jews that believed in Jesus but they did not confess him. John 12:43,”For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” I never want to follow what I think others want me to do more than the the Truth.
So, when I felt God tell me to do the World Race there were voices but, I looked at my necklace and said, “I’d rather follow the Spirit.”
I had this shirt made with this theme in mind. John 3:8, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
To buy your own “I’d Rather Follow the Spirit” shirt and help fund my trip email me at: [email protected] . Regular T-shirts are $18 and Tank Tops are $20.
