You can’t lead your family well if you’re still trying to prove yourself to the world.
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God’s Promise for Today
Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (ESV)
I remember the day I stopped trying to be liked.
It wasn’t a moment of pride, but of clarity. I was tired—tired of trying to be the best version of myself in front of people who didn’t matter. Tired of carrying the weight of being “good enough” in a world that constantly shifts the target. And tired of the quiet resentment I didn’t even know was building up inside of me.
That’s when the Spirit brought light into my heart. And not some abstract “spiritual” light—I mean full exposure. Like standing buck-naked in a room with no shadows left to hide in. And here’s the wild part… I wasn’t ashamed.
I was free.
You ever watch your kids when they were little? I remember when mine first started running around the house—diaper off, squealing and laughing, completely free. No shame. No fear. Just joy. But at some point, shame creeps in. The world teaches them to cover up, to be afraid, to perform.
And we men—we do the same.
We start wearing layers. Layers of “I’ve got this.” Layers of “I’m fine.” Layers of “Don’t show weakness.” All the while, the Spirit of God is trying to strip all of that off. Not to embarrass us—but to free us.
Men, I’m going to say this plain: we can’t be the leaders our families need if we’re still bound by the need to be accepted by man.
That need—whether it’s approval from your boss, your buddies, your dad, or social media—is killing your leadership. It’s robbing you of your identity in Christ. It’s dragging your spirit through the mud of passivity, pride, and fear.
And it’s time to drop it.
When we walk in the light, the real light, we see just how much junk we’ve been carrying around. Pride. Insecurity. Anger. Defensiveness. That “need to be right.” That desire to control everything. But in the light of Jesus, those things lose their power. You don’t have to defend yourself anymore. You don’t have to prove anything.
And brother, that’s where leadership begins.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t call us to lead with our fists clenched and our teeth grinding. He calls us to lead with hearts on fire—hearts that burn with His presence. That’s why silence matters. Real, holy silence—not the kind where you’re stewing in your own thoughts, but the kind that lets the Spirit speak louder than your fears.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (ESV)
Stillness. That’s where you stop talking, stop pretending, stop planning, and just… know. That God is God. That you are not. And that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.
Men, when was the last time you sat in silence—not because you were out of words, but because you were listening for His whisper?
Silence teaches us what strength really is.
Joshua 6:10? God told the warriors to stay silent as they circled Jericho. Not shout. Not fight. Just walk in obedience.
Mark 4:39? Jesus didn’t argue with the storm. He just silenced it.
Silence isn’t weakness. It’s a weapon.
And it’s often in the silence that we finally hear the truth:
You don’t need to be accepted by man. You already belong to God.
I lived years stuck in the lie that I was unworthy to serve. I thought I wasn’t “ready” or “qualified.” Truth was, I just didn’t want to be seen. I didn’t want to stand exposed in front of people who could judge or reject me.
But God tore that lie apart.
He didn’t say I was worthy to serve man—He said I was worthy to serve Him.
That changed everything. That’s when the light hit. That’s when I stopped hiding. That’s when I stood tall—not because I was confident in me, but because I was confident in Him.
It was when I realized that I was trapped in feeling “unworthy to serve” that I saw what had been holding me back for years. I couldn’t serve in the place I believed God was calling me—because I was still focused on man. I didn’t even know it. I thought I was being humble. But really, I was believing a lie.
The Holy Spirit tore that veil wide open and showed me the truth: I wasn’t unworthy to serve Him—I was just afraid of not being enough for people.
But when the Spirit whispered, “You are worthy to serve Me,” I stood naked in the light of the Lord. And I understood.
I felt confident—not because of me, but because of Him.
I moved boldly into what He had for me. And now, I live Luke 10:27—loving God, loving others, serving God, and serving others.
That’s the life of a shepherd. That’s the call on your life and mine.
And now, I live it out—standing strong in His light as a ‘Man of the Shepherd’.
Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value
God-given worth – True confidence comes when a man stops seeking man’s approval and starts walking in the worth God has already given him.
Three Practical Reflection Questions
What approval are you still chasing from others that God has already given you in Christ? (Galatians 1:10)
When was the last time you sat in complete silence before God? What did you hear? (Psalm 46:10)
Are there layers you’re still hiding behind that need to be exposed in the light of Christ? (1 John 1:7)
Bible References (ESV)
Galatians 5:16 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Joshua 6:10 – “But Joshua commanded the people, ‘You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.’”
Mark 4:39 – “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Nehemiah 8:10 – “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Galatians 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Luke 10:27 – “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’”
Short Prayer
Lord, tear down every lie that tells me I’m not worthy.
Let me lead my family boldly, confident in the light of Your truth and not the opinion of man.
My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.
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