Rejection is a lying spirit that draws us into thinking in a way that is contrary to what the Word of God states. Rejection plagues most people and has been built up as a stronghold in many people’s lives.
It creates disunity in relationships, destroys destinies and releases bitterness, resentment and offense.
So, how do we conquer rejection?
Acknowledging you are suffering with rejection is the first step is removing this hindrance from your life. As you recognize rejecting thoughts, casting them down and taking them captive will be instrumental in receiving your deliverance. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, it instructs us to take every thought captive. In the Complete Jewish Bible, taking the thought captive actually means submitting the thought and making the thought obey Christ.
When thoughts of rejection come in, you must surrender them to the Word of God. Ask yourself, “Does this thought line up with the God’s Word or contradict what the Bible says about me and who I am?”
Rejection comes in through words people speak to us or actions they invoke on us. Rejection can also be how we perceive a situation. Just as most of the things we worry about never happen, so it is with rejection. We perceive into a situation the thoughts of reactions of another person that are not true and thus it causes us to take on rejection.
The yearning to want acceptance and approval are linked directly to why we feel rejected. We have this longing to fit it, be accepted, exalted and have people approve of us. We are consistently seeking words of affirmation and confirmation of our anointing or a pat on the back for a job well done.
It is when we don’t get an affirmation, a thank you or a firm well done that the spirit of rejection sets in. Coming to the realization that we are accepted and affirmed by God is the key to releasing ourselves from rejection.
As we grow closer to the Lord in our walk, we will internalize that the acceptance and love of the Father is all that really matters. We should desire to love and live in unity with people, but people are not where our identity should come from. Our identity comes from knowing who we are in Christ and whose we are. As we read the Bible and learn about our kingdom inheritance and our rightful position and authority in the kingdom, it will affirm us.
We will then take our eyes off the need for man’s approval and know we are accepted and loved by God. When we know that God accepts us and are living in the fullness of his love and power, what man believes will not matter because we know who we are in Christ. The words and emotions of this world do not have everlasting value compared to who we are in Christ.
When we are seeking man’s approval more than God’s approval, we are idolizing man. We are saying what they think is more important than what God thinks. God wants no idols before him.
Casting down the thoughts of what other people think is an ongoing battle. However, it is a battle you can conquer. As you spend time in the presence of the Lord, you will become like him and full of His love.
When you are in God’s presence, He will speak to you and reveal the lies you are entertaining in your mind. He will assist you in removing those lies through His Word. When you are reading the Bible, don’t just read, study it so you can learn what the Bible says about you.
By renewing your mind through being in His presence and in His Word, He helps us conquer the insecurities that lead us down the road to rejection.
We are here on this earth to serve God and serve people, love God and love people. If we continually focus on that, then we will never feel we are owed anything. Servants give without an expectation of anything in return.
We have to renew our mind and be servants. We need to give without an expectation of someone saying thank you, that was nice or other words of affirmation. When we give and love with no expectation of anything in return, then we can guard our hearts and minds from rejection, because rejection sets in when we are expecting a return or looking for a response.
Can you conquer the rejection you are faced with today? Yes, you can, and here is how:
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the pockets of rejection.
- Repent of where you have taken in rejection.
- Declare this: I am accepted and loved by God and that is the real truth I need to believe.
- Ask God to help you get over your need to feel accepted and approved by man.
- Learn your identity in Christ through reading books and the Word of God.
- Be love and give by serving without any expectations in return.
- Take every thought captive and cast out the ones that don’t line up with the Word of God.
Practice casting down rejection until you conquer it! {eoa}
Kathy DeGraw is the founder of DeGraw Ministries a prophetic ministry releasing the love and power of God, igniting people in the prophetic and releasing people from emotional bondage. She’s passionate about teaching people the power of prayer through declaring. She speaks at conferences and travels hosting evangelistic love tours. She is the founder of Change into Colorless, an anti-racism corporation and co-pastors a church. Kathy is the author of Spiritual Warfare Declarations, A Worship Woven Life, Time to Set the Captives Free, and Flesh, Satan or God. Connect with Kathy at www.degrawministries.org.