“She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore, his name was called Levi.” ~ Genesis 29:34
REFERENCE:
Leah was a woman unloved by her husband; this created a great gap (her husband’s attention and affection) that she needed to fill. Although God compensated her by making her prolific in child-bearing, she lived her life trying to gain her husband’s love, as we can see in our main text.
Leah saw child-bearing as a way of getting her husband to love her, so she went all out. Indeed, Children are a blessing from God, but the names Leah gave her children revealed her motive for having children: Reuben – “God has seen my affliction; my husband will now love me.” Simeon – “God knows I’m not loved, so He gave me this one (to turn my husband’s heart to me).” Levi – “My husband will become attached to me because I have borne him three sons.” Every child Leah had was to gain Jacob’s love. She did not thank God but watched to see what impact the birth of each child would have on her marriage – would Jacob love her more?
Leah soon found herself in a performance trap. A performance trap is when you need to keep doing things or acting in a certain way to be accepted or recognized; it is engaging in activities to cover up for what you are lacking, so people can like you. You go out with friends to places you usually wouldn’t for acceptance. You dress in an out-of-character way, just so a guy can love you. You work extra hard at good grades to hear your dad say, “I’m proud of you.” Stop eating well to get the body shape he wants. Or, you serve in every department in your church to get God’s love and attention. You are in a performance trap, an unending vicious cycle.
We all seek love and acceptance from man (peers) and God. However, God has chosen to love you, not based on anything you do or don’t do. You cannot force any man to help, love or want you; God must touch their heart. Have you noticed how you have wearied yourself trying to get someone to love or like you, date you, employ you, commend you, invest in your ideas, etc.? Relax and turn your focus on God. Leah did so at last when she had her fourth child. She turned towards God, “Now, I will praise God,” naming the boy Judah. God loves you and accepts you the way you are; you don’t have to add anything to the merit the blood of Jesus has given you. He is the One who can touch a man’s heart and make them favor you, give to you, or help you. When a man’s way pleases God, He makes his enemies be at peace with him. Break free from the performance trap and receive God’s love.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Titus 3:5, Romans 9:16 & Proverbs 21:1
PRAYERS:
- Lord, by Your Spirit, break me free from every performance trap I have found myself in.
- Forgive me for taking my focus off You but trying hard to get man’s approval apart from You.
- Help me to rest in Your love for me and to acknowledge that “I am accepted in the beloved.”
- Touch the hearts of my helpers (even if they don’t like me) so that they may do what they must.
Amen 🙏🏼
This is therapy right here ! Thank you Lord for deliverances proceeding from this message.
Amen!
Not by power nor by might but by His Spirit!
Halleluyah!
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Oh the boundless love of God!
Holy Spirit help me to focus on, and rest in His love.
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
It is so easy to keep looking around to see what someone can do for you, being so carried away with trying to get their attention or have an audience with them; but God says this morning., “I AM THE DOOR YOU NEED TO BE OPENED, I AM YOUR TRUE HELPER.”
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽