Set Yourself Free from People-Pleasing

“We ought to obey God rather than men.”                         Ac 5:29

Too often our actions are dictated by a misguided need to please others. We care so much about what they think, that with every step we take we look over our shoulder to see whether they’re smiling or frowning. Understand this: If you’re always looking for people’s approval, you’re not looking where you’re going and eventually you’ll hit a wall or trip over your own two feet. The Bible says, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” What do you think will happen if you open your mouth and stand up for yourself? The truth is, people who don’t respect your rights and honor your wishes are not worth your time or effort. Nor are they worthy of a long-drawn-out discussion; just say goodbye! (We’re not talking about your marriage or children.) When the land became too small for the flocks of Abraham and Lot to graze together, strife broke out. Abraham loved his nephew Lot, but he realized he could no longer live in this situation. So he said, “Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left” (Ge 13:9 NKJV). How does their story end? Lot chose the best grazing land close to Sodom, and as a result everything he worked for went up in smoke. But Abraham, who always sought to please God, ended up not only being blessed himself but being a blessing to the nations of the world. So the word for you today is—God wants to set you free from people-pleasing.

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