What's Your Goal?

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

Just try to do and be the best you that you know how. It is such a waste of time and effort to try to please everybody. That is a job no one could ever accomplish.

It's easy to allow yourself, especially during rough periods, to be influenced by others. God is the only person that will always stand by you and have your back. So the only person you should strive to please is God.

Do not change yourself for others. Do not lose yourself trying to be something that you are not. The only reason you should make a change within your life is for God. He would want you to be the best version of yourself. Do not be influenced by the people surrounding you. Imitate Christ.

No matter how hard a situation may be, you must put your faith in God. He is the One person you can always count on.

You are not really free, until you are free from trying to please everybody. If your goal is to make everyone happy, you are always going to be disappointed. Carry on ... whether you get people's approval or not.

You know God's voice.

Just follow it.

Father, help us to be God pleasers and not people pleasers. We want to give You the honor and respect that You are due. Help us to hear and follow Your voice, Your instruction, Your leading. In Jesus’ name, amen.


 
see also: Got Rest?

Got Rest?

 

Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. Mark 6: 31

We can become physically, emotionally and spiritually drained by giving too much time to people, churches or work. How can you know if you are giving too much? Anger, resentment, bitterness, and exhaustion are good thermometers. WE NEED BALANCE.

In order to take charge of our lives and be ready for what GOD has for us, we have to learn to say 'no' sometimes. Don't fear rejection, being passed over, or missing out for times you have to say 'no'. Use those times instead as times of refueling and resting.

We have to be ready in season and out for what God has for us and we can't if we're a 'yes' person that does whatever others want us to do. I.e.,  no people pleasing, people ... because we can't be everything to everyone all the time ... only God can.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

The key to avoiding burn-out in any area of your life is balance. Honor God’s laws of physical rest and learn to say 'no' to overwork, demanding people and guilt. Be led today BY GOD ... and no longer fear or beat yourself up for times that He sets you aside for rest ... be human and enjoy it.

Father, we pray for true rest … trusting in You. Help us to know Your voice, when to say ‘yes’ to people and when to say ‘no’ without fears or guilt. Help us to rest in You, knowing You have a good plan for our lives and those around us. Don’t pass us over when You have an assignment because we’re too exhausted to even lift a finger. Give us rest, refuel us, refresh us. In Jesus’ name, amen.



Related AFTA blogs:
The Enemy of Busyness
A Real Rest

Sweep Off Your Own

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:1-5








It's really hard to be around family sometimes, especially this time of year. Them still condemning me for the old me. Let it go people, I'm NEW. Family sure can be our worst critics sometimes, makes holidays really rough, but I'm gonna love on 'em anyway. Hmm, most of the stuff I'm being judged for isn't even true. If you don't accept me, don't think I'm gonna run home and cry a river, I'll give the rejection to Jesus and move on. I can live without you ... just fine.

Then there's all the fighting and bickering, people talking over each other, no one really caring to listen to anything but the sound of their own voice. Hurts to see family arguing and disrepecting each other, but I always ask God for grace to be around them and try to see all the family anyway - they are family after all.

Stop the disrepecting. Quit gossiping and judging, YOU don't have it all right, either. We don't need nobody pointing out our sins and judging us.

Sad to say, a lot of church folk criticize and find fault but then try to hid behind the Bible or their own personal so called righteousness. We try to dog others for what they're doing or not doing but then we forget about what we're doing behind closed doors at home.

Let he who's without sin cast the first stone. Baby, you need to sweep off your OWN porch first before trying to make others sweep theirs or you try to do it for them. Take a look at yourself before you criticize or have something to say about others.

It's funny how we so quickly see others faults and judge harshly, but either don't see our own shortcomings or ask others to excuse us like it's ok if we mess up and not them. We're actually usually guilty of the very faults that we try to accuse others of. That's why we recognize it so easily ... it's familiar to us.

We ALL need a heart change. And judging IS NOT going to change someone. If anything, it will cause them to withdraw and separate from the body of Christ even more. People feel bad enough as it is, they need love and support, that's what wins one out ... love.

The Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

No matter what you've done, God still loves you and He's there for you even when you can't feel Him. We make things so difficult sometimes, just relax and let the Lord lead. Don't think that you have to do everything right, that you have to please God and everybody, to be loved and accepted. God loves you and accepts you JUST LIKE YOU ARE.

Mother Teresa once said, 'If you judge people, you have no time to love them.'

Keep loving on family members and friends. Treat each other with respect, the way that you would want to be treated. God is the repairer of the breach and will mend the relationships that we give to Him and entrust to Him.

Sweep off your own front porch FIRST .... before you try to sweep around others porch.

Father, help us to quit worrying about what people think. Help us to stop trying to please everybody else when YOU'RE the ONE that we need to please. Help us to just do the best we can. Forgive us for judging our brother instead of loving on them and walking beside them in their time of need. In Jesus’ name, amen.





see also: In Times of Weakness

Avoid Burnout

But he [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a lone broom or juniper tree and asked that he might die. He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4




Those who are addicted to approval frequently get 'burned out.' For them there always exists the danger of attempting too much. They so desperately want to please that they do everything they feel is expected of them and then some. Sometimes they say yes just because they cannot say no, not because they think their actions are the will of God. They burn out for lack of discernment or because of unwarranted guilt. And then, their anger builds.

We become angry when we feel all used up and pulled in every direction. Burnout makes us angry, because we recognize deep down inside that it is not normal. We become angry with the people pressuring us, when in reality we are allowing ourselves to be pressured. To avoid pressure from others and from ourselves, we must take control of our lives under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Once when I was complaining about my heavy schedule, I heard the Holy Spirit say, 'You are the one who makes your schedule. If you don't like it, then do something about it.'


Prayer: Lord, pressure comes from every side, and it seems impossible to keep up. Help me to take control of my commitments and eliminate what is not of You. Amen.

















From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions (except the picture) by Joyce Meyer.