You Are Not The Sum of Other People’s Expectations
We live under the guise of expectations. From parents, to siblings, friends, co-workers, employers, society, and to yourself. You perform as others expect to not rock the boat. The flip side is the focus on yourself. Your needs, wants and desires. But when you catch yourself looking over your shoulder to validate your actions and approval by others, it could be a sign you’re losing the game.
There’s no doubt the expectations of others and for yourself, when not met, can lead to disappointment. You want approval ratings to increase, not decrease, in your eyes and in the eyes of others. It’s a complication that creates obstruction, inner conflict, and leads you away from God. A loving Father who desires restoration, redemption, renewal, and a refreshing through His Son, Jesus.
It’s in the heart that guides choices. To rise up to meet the expectations of others, yourself, or to a God that has immeasurable love for you.
It’s as simple as choosing right and wrong, light and dark, the Kingdom of Heaven, or the kingdom of hell. But the choice is based on worldly expectations. It can bind you or set you free.
As a reformed new ager, I lived worldly, and placed my beliefs in my higher power—my intuitive self.
As long as I was in alignment with my higher power life was great. I didn’t need God or the expectations of others. I had the power to create my own reality with the expectation the universe would provide.
In the end, this path wasn’t what I expected. I believed I was on a spiritual path. But I’d chosen a path based on deception.
We live in a time of spiritual warfare, a fact you may find difficult to believe. But when you take a deep look at the world today, you can’t help but wonder.
This rang true for me after I gave my life to Jesus. When I made this commitment, I’d expectations it wouldn’t have consequences, especially, on a spiritual level.
But something happened.
I had this moment. An instant clarity—the choice to walk with Jesus wasn’t me. I asked myself, ‘what are you doing? You don’t believe in Jesus?’ In that instant, I felt like a different person, a person of the world, and not the Kingdom of Heaven. I shook the feeling off instantly, as I knew in my heart, I belonged to Him.
This is spiritual warfare. The trickery of the devil and his demons. This expectation is real. They want to own your soul, as the devil’s reign on earth is temporary. He will do everything in his power to devour you.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
We fall prey to the ways of the world so easily, turn our backs on God, and His Son, Jesus, as we don’t want to be labelled ‘religious’ or as ‘Christians’ living a pious life.
Moreover, it’s the expectation of non-believers that believers do no wrong. We’re human. Born into a life of sin. The difference is redemption through Jesus Christ. In Him, we are made new. However, we still sin. It’s through repentance, and continued repentance, we receive His mercy and forgiveness.
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
In a previous blog titled, ‘What Causes Your Heart to Skip a Beat’, I address my sugar addiction, a sin of selfish desires that separated me from Jesus. I did it blindly, as if my life was on repeat.
Mark 5:34
“We repeat what we don’t repair.”
I expected Jesus to heal me of this addiction when I gave my life to Him. I realize now He was waiting for me to fully surrender this addiction to Him. I did through repentance.
It’s in sacrificing who we are, that He rejoices and intervenes as His goal is to renew our hearts and mind through Him, conform to the will of God, as our addictions, and worldly attachments are removed, one by one, through His grace.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
A renewal of your heart and mind through the living word of God. To have a heart reconciled with God.
The healing, intimacy, and renewal all happens in reading scripture. It’s in the ‘words’ you find the grace and love of God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, whom He sacrificed while we were still sinners.
He equips you with the words to help you fight off the devil and his temptations.
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
His words encourage you to seek Him.
Hosea 6:3
‘Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.’
Yesterday is gone, tomorrow never comes, but today is here. You have the moment. The present time to return to the Kingdom of Heaven, invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, read scripture, pray, and allow Him to renew your mind, heart, and soul.
What to expect?
The blessings of His Peace.
Everlasting Salvation.
Forgiveness.
Healing.
Mercy.
He will deliver it all to you, as you are His creation. He wants to welcome you home.
Each day, you have the choice—throw away the expectations of others, the expectations you place on yourself, open the door, and experience the healing grace of Christ Jesus.
He is the Prince of Peace. It’s His peace that becomes a part of you. He transforms your heart and enables you to override the expectations of others.
It’s a beautiful thing, to feel blessed with His peace. It gives you freedom to be the person God created you to be.
My intentions with this blog, is to encourage you to be open to make decisions without expectations, to follow the callings of your heart, and have a life of peace.
Each day you’re blessed with the golden rays of sunrise. The magenta hues of sunset, to welcome a new day and end it in glory. Everything designed in perfect harmony by our creator. A creator who blessed you with the choice on how to live your life. Is it time to consider His invitation? Only your heart knows.
God Bless,
Hi, I’m Cathy.
A blogger, photographer, author, passionately driven to pointing people away from new age indoctrination to find redemption in Jesus Christ.
I’m a mixed blend, excited to share all I offer...
Blog-Twisted Roots
Do you find yourself asking questions about new age, whether the practices and beliefs are leading your soul to redemption?
As a reformed new ager, I was saturated in the belief I could co-create with the universe and manifest a life of abundance. But I was deceived. This blog is to point you to the truth of God’s words and how He perceives the new age indoctrination.
Fine Art Photography
I always dreamed of being a professional photographer when I grew up. It was a journey to reach this goal, but I did it!
I owned a home-based studio for over a decade but have been shooting images for two decades. Now, semi-retired, I have a collection of my most cherished images of landscape or nature available for wall décor.
