Shut The Critic OUT!

The Critic

Who are the critics that are telling you not to do what God has called and equipped you to do? Is it You? Others close to you? The world we live in? The infamous “they”?

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Arguing

Jesus comes down the mountain of transfiguration after He had just been up on the mountain of transfiguration with three disciples. They were Peter, James, and John. He arrives on the scene to find the other disciples arguing with the scribes about something. They were questioning what God had empowered them to do because they were unable to heal this boy.

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, ¹⁸ and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid, and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” ¹⁹ He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you?

Mark 9:16-17 NIV

Each one of us has a calling in our lives. Before the foundation of the world, God began to equip us for it. At the appropriate time, He will call us forth to do His will. We can only accomplish that if what He says is louder than any critic.

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Ourselves

What are we telling ourselves? Do we listen to the thoughts we think? We are often our own critics. We will argue with ourselves trying to establish evidence that we can or cannot do something God has clearly empowered us to accomplish. Just as he had the first disciples.

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. Luke 9:1-6 NIV

They and Others

We can get used to picking up words of doubt. This is especially true if you have had emotional, verbal, or bullying abuse in your life. For what you have repeatedly heard can become what you listen to.

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The world concentrates on their idea of success. God’s idea of success is different. So don’t listen to those critics either. The infamous “they.” Don’t take stock in their words because it is just opinion. Man’s views change by the hour, the moment. Our task is not people pleasing. It is not advised because what we need is who Jesus is, the constant of being the same yesterday, today, and forever. And according to Ephesians 1:6, we are accepted in the Beloved.

When we begin to listen to the critics and don’t shut them down right away they can be paralyzing. This stops the anointing of the Holy Spirit’s flow in our lives and we cannot move forward. Why? This is because our faith is stagnated.

Affirmation

Like what Eve experienced in the garden, the enemy, the accuser of the brethren, whispers lies and half-truths over a forked tongue right into our lives. Instead of believing his words that we are less than, not enough, or inadequate for the calling, speak God’s promises out loud and affirm yourself. That He loves you and He has chosen you for such a time as this for His eternal glory and kingdom purposes. Confidence in what God has spoken to you is not arrogance. It’s the belief that says the power is within me to accomplish His will. If we are faithful to bring our ‘A’ game, He will do what we can’t.