Standing on the shoulders of the greats - 29 May 2026
Imogen Campbell
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10, NIV
When I first came to Christ, I was a nominal Christian, albeit one who regularly attended church. I knew about Jesus, but I did not know him as my Lord and Saviour. There is an eternal difference.
The lights only went on after I studied the Scriptures, and like it did for the men on the road to Emmaus, my heart burned with conviction all those years ago.
Yet, today I still find myself trying to win the approval of people. The fear of humans that overshadows my trust in God is the problem. It is a daily struggle to redirect my fear and entrust myself to God. The remedy: I need to elevate God to the place he belongs: High and lifted up.( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mly0weNe-tg)
That fervour and childlike trust in God that I once had as a new Christian has become subdued over time, less assured. The school of hard knocks and ambushes by the devil have left me a little battle- scarred.
Fortunately, it does not end there. I can crack open my Bible and read about the saints of old who prayed prayers in weakness, asking God for deliverance from their problems. I am reminded of the corporate prayers for the Apostle Peter that led to his release from jail (Acts 12:6-19).
The place of meeting shook when the early church gathered to pray in Jerusalem one day. (Acts 4:23-31) God has faithfully responded to the sincere prayers of the saints.
Daniel prayed and God rescued him from the lion’s den. And another time when he prayed, an angel showed up and told him that he was highly esteemed and that He had come in response to his prayer.
As the men and women of old have powerful stories of faith to draw from, new converts also share powerful testimonies that Jesus is still working today. Let us keep fighting to have faith over fear and see what God will do.
In the meantime, as at the very start, I am still the one standing in the need of prayer: "Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me, o Lord."
Prayer: Father, thank you for the great men and women who committed their lives to you and prayed prayers that changed the world. Help us to look to them when we feel weak in our faith. Amen.