Free
From People Pleasing
TODAY’S
SCRIPTURE
Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD
means safety.
Proverbs 29:25, NLT.
TODAY’S
WORD
In life, there will always be people who try to squeeze
you into their mold; people who try to pressure you into being who they want
you to be. They may be good people. They may mean well. But the problem is that
they aren’t your creator. They didn’t breathe life into you. They didn’t equip
you, empower you or anoint you; Almighty God did! If you’re going to be all
that God created you to be, you can’t focus on what everybody else thinks. If
you change with every criticism, trying to win the favor of others, then you’ll
go through life being manipulated and letting people squeeze you into their
box. You have to realize that you can’t keep every person happy. You can’t make
everyone like you. You’ll never win over all of your critics.
Instead of trying to please people, when you get up in
the morning, ask the Lord to search your heart. Ask Him if your ways are
pleasing to Him. Stay focused on your goals. If people don’t understand you,
that’s okay. If you lose some friends because you wouldn’t let them control
you, they weren’t true friends anyway. You don’t need other’s approval; you
only need Almighty God’s approval. Keep your heart and mind submitted to Him
and be free from people pleasing!
PRAYER
FOR TODAY
Father God, I come humbly to You today. I invite You to
search my heart and mind. Let my ways be pleasing to You. Let my thoughts be
Your thoughts. Thank You for setting me free from people pleasing in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
***
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)
The Bible says a Christian without a church home is like an organ without a body, a sheep without a flock, or a child without a family. It is an unnatural state. Ephesians 2:19 says, “You belong in God’s household with every other Christian” (LB).
Today’s culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans — “bunny believers” who hop around from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. Many believe it is possible to be a “good Christian” without joining (or even attending) a local church, but God would strongly disagree.
The church is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it: “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it” (Ephesians 5:25 GW).
Except for a few important exceptions referring to all believers throughout history, almost every time the word “church” is used in the Bible it refers to a local, visible congregation. The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation.
A church family identifies you as a genuine believer. I can’t claim to follow Christ if I’m not committed to any specific group of disciples. Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).
When we come together in love as a church family from different backgrounds, races, and social statuses, it is also a witness to the world (Galatians 3:28).
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