My Audience of One

I recently heard the phrase, "Live for an Audience of One".  I love that!  It sums up a huge part of the journey God has taken me through.  It puts a beautiful spin on what God has been teaching me through the last few years.  There are many other things I have called it - pride, being too concerned about what others think of me, giving myself the glory - none of them as lovely as, "Live for an Audience of One". 


I picture myself dancing on a stage (I don't dance very well, mind you!), looking out into the audience and there is one chair there, right in the middle, up front.  It's kind of dark, but I can still see God's smiling face as He watches me twirl and leap in the air. 


So much of my time and energy has been spent on trying to look good to others.  I want to be liked the best, have others think I'm good at everything I do, be attractive to people.  When I accomplish something good, I want others to notice- and say so.  When I fail at something, I desperately hope others won't see.  I've been dancing for an audience of many, many people - family, friends, co-workers, supporters, Mozambicans.... 


Martha, dance for an audience of One! It's time to focus your attention on Him. -  Looking out into that darkness, and seeing that face again, I know with certainty that if I trip and fall, He'll still smile with such love and hold out His hand to pick me up. He won't laugh at me and think badly of me.  If I, miraculously, finish the dance well, He'll smile with such love and hold out His hand to say, "Well done, my child!"


That's the audience I want to perform for!  My God!




                    Galatians 1:10 - "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?
                                                  Or am I trying to please men?..."


                    2 Corinthians 5:9 - "So we make it our goal to please him...."




All of this inspires me to release my concerns of what others think, and instead meditate on what God thinks.  What does He like? How can I dance better for Him?  What do I need to change to be more attractive to Him?  I still have a long way to go.


I hope and pray that I'll keep growing on this journey of learning to live for an audience of One.  I pray for you, too, if you've been on a "concerned about what others think of me- journey".  I'd love to hear your story.