Good morning, my brothers! The voice that says "prove it" never stops asking. Win today, and it raises the bar tomorrow. If we keep trying to satisfy it, we'll miss the Voice that already settled it. Let’s go! A 58-second read.
Listen to the audio version here:
When I walk off a stage after speaking with a men's group, the same voice speaks loudly in my head.
It isn't kind. It replays the points I missed and the words I rushed. Most of the time, before I've even sat down, I've decided the whole message fell flat.
I thought that was just me. Then last week I listened to Josh Howerton and Philip Anthony Mitchell on Josh's podcast, Live Free. They're two preachers I respect a lot. Both admitted they feel the exact same thing after almost every message.
That helped. But it didn't answer the voice. So where does it come from?
He Tried It on Jesus First
Remember what the Father said over Jesus at His baptism in Matthew chapter 3: “This is my Son... “
Turn the page to Matthew 4. Jesus goes into the wilderness, and the very first thing the enemy says to Him is this:
The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
If you are... prove it.
The Father had just settled it. The enemy's opening move was to put an "if" in front of it and try to make Him prove who He was.
Jesus didn't take the bait. He stood firmly on what His Father had already said.
Nothing to Prove
That's the same voice I hear when I walk off the stage. If you were really called to share with men, you'd have performed better.
Maybe you hear it too. Most men do. It's the same dare the enemy threw at Jesus, just aimed at us.
If you're really His son, prove it. Show me the marriage that works. Show me the kids who still call. Show me you finally beat that temptation. Then I'll believe you.
We don't have to argue with the voice or go prove anything. The Father spoke first. The enemy can't change His verdict. All he can do is put an "if" in front of it and hope it discourages us enough to pull us away from the Father and His plans for us.
So this week, when the "if" shows up, stop and hear the Father and stay focused on Him:
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
If you're in Christ, He says it over you, too.
And go forward boldly, living for Christ right where you are, with the gifts He's given you.
Father, You know the voice that continually tells me I'm not enough. Thank You that Your word came first, and it still stands. When I'm tempted to prove myself, help me rest in being Your son. Amen.
-Will
Share this newsletter with someone you believe might benefit eternally from reading it, HERE. Thanks for considering!
