Is God’s Approval Enough For Me?

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them…
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Matthew 6:1, 6 NIV

Because Lent invites me to step away from noise and appearances, Jesus’ words gently uncover a subtle but powerful struggle within me — the desire to be noticed, affirmed, and validated by others.  

Even good and spiritual practices can quietly drift toward performance. Jesus, however, redirects my attention to the unseen place, where motives are purified and intimacy with the Father deepens. He reminds me that the truest spiritual life is not lived on display, but in quiet faithfulness before God.

The Father who sees in secret is not looking for spectacle, but sincerity. There is deep freedom in living for an audience of One. When God’s approval becomes my anchor, comparison loosens its grip and striving begins to fade. Lent becomes not a season of proving, but of abiding.

What if…I truly believed that being seen by God was enough? What if my prayers, generosity, and devotion flowed from love rather than recognition? What if the hidden life with the Father became my deepest source of joy and security? 

Let's walk this Lenten journey together. 

Founder, IHS Global