Money Money Money

Pete Wilson on money and greed as idols (from Empty Promises):

"I've had to learn the hard way that money never wants to be just money in my life. It's always trying to position and manipulate itself into becoming something more..." (pages 95-96)

"That's a lesson I believe we all need when it comes to our money and our lives. We need to learn the joy of letting go. In fact, we probably need to learn it over and over again, to counteract the temptations of idolatry in our lives." (page 103)

"In fact, the only way I know how to fight back against allowing money to become an idol, the only way I know to break the greedy patter of get, get, get in my life, is the one that Jesus taught and modeled for us again and again.

The healthy way to handle money - and any other potential idol in our lives - is to give, give, give, trusting God to provide what we really need." (page 105)

Perils of Power

More from Empty Promises by Pete Wilson:

"When any of us allow power to become an idol in our lives, we begin to get our very sense of identity from it. As a result, we'll do everything in our control to cover up any hint of weakness- what ever suggests we're not the commanding in-charge kind of person we want to be." (pages 75-76)

"..a sure sign that my attitude toward power is out of whack is that I'll start doing everything I can to avoid failure." (page 76) 

"It's a decision we all must make - one that especially challenges those of us who lean in the direction of a power idol.

Do we want the perceived power that comes from avoiding failure?

Or do we want the authentic power that comes from Christ when we live and walk humbly with him." (page 77)

"While power may puff up the illusion of control, it does not, in fact, equal more control." (page 81)

"God keeps watch. He does not sleep. (we may not like to admit it, but the universe gets along just fine without us.)....Which means you can let go of your stress, your problems, your anxiety, your insecurity. You don't have to be in charge, because you have a God who has your back. He'll take care of everything, and there's only one thing you have to do.

You have to surrender."  (page 84)

Approval Addiction

Quotes on "Approval Addiction " from Empty Promises by Pete Wilson:

"...approval addiction is the process of looking to people or relationships to provide the love, acceptance, and validation that should come from God.

And that , of course, is idolatry." - Page 51

"Approval addicts are destined for a life of mediocrity because they always have to follow the herd - and that's the very opposite of what Christ calls us to do....

....If you depend on other people approving or supporting everything you say or do, you will end up doing and saying nothing. You will be handcuffed to mediocrity." - pages 56-57

Approval addiction is essentially an act of self-abandonment. Instead of finding your value and worth from your Creator, you have given your heart up for adoption. You have given it away to others for love and approval, making them responsible for your feelings...Depending on anyone other than God for fundamental validation is just asking for heartbreak." - page 58

"Your worth and value aren't determined by anyone's love and acceptance except for God's. And God's love and acceptance is already guaranteed. If you look to him for love and approval, you sill never be rejected." - page 61

Have I mentioned that I like this book?

Empty Promises

Video Trailer for Pete Wilsons book Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing

Unshakable Position

I'm enjoying Pete Wilson's newest book. Here's some good stuff!

""..my goal these days...is to transition from a success-based identity to a position-based identity.

What is a position-based identity? It means that instead of gathering self-worth externally - from achievement - we try to receive it internally. We begin to understand that self-worth comes from who we are in Christ, not what we accomplish in this world...

...Positional-based identity doesn't come from your performance or from anyone else's evaluation of your performance. Rather, positional-based identity comes from how you feel about your position in Christ...

...Is the root of your identity in the truth that right now you are loved?
 
Do you believe that right now you are accepted, that right now you are enough because you are the beloved child of the King?

Basing your identity on that reality is the only way to treat an achievement addiction. It's the only way to tear down the ladder and destroy the treadmill of achievement and success. Because if you do that, your life will be rooted in something that cannot be shaken."

 - Pete Wilson, Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing, pages 42-45