I know that I am really behind on reading through the 40-things devotional, and writing in my blog. It has been a bit...not normal around here this past week. Just because I have fallen behind does not mean I am going to give up. I know that this will now go way past lent, but these are not things to only work on giving up through lent. These are things that I know I need to work on in order to create an even greater bond between me and my God.
People Pleasing: I can't please everyone anyways. There is only one I need to strive to please.
Some words from the eDevotion:
"Our need to please often arises out of our own need for approval."
"Love is not always doing the things people want you to do. That is called enabling. Love is doing for them what you believe in your heart and you know from God to be best for them."
"When we give in to people pleasing, we lose our focus and direction. We will be steered in all sorts of different directions. Find the landmark of Jesus Christ. Keep steering straight toward him."
People pleasing: I love to do that. I crave approval and attention. I tend to measure my worth by what people think. It often leaves me feeling disappointed and even alone. You really can't please everyone all the time. The cannot all always fill the void you are trying to fill. That is just how we are designed. Only God can play that role. Only Jesus can fill that void. Only the Holy Spirit can guide.
I love what the eDevotion said about enabling. It is a comforting and encouraging thought. It brings hope and strength. When someone disappoints me, leaves me feeling alone, I can question those feelings. They are most likely false feelings. Is what I want from them beneficial to me? Is it realistic? Would they just be enabling my poor choices and false emotions? What struggle could they be going through having to do what they know is hard for me because they know it is best - because they know that God is guiding them, because they love and value me? It puts a whole new perspective on things.
"Find the landmark of Jesus Christ. Keep steering straight toward him."
We need to watch out for those who's goals are to get our focus off of Jesus. They want nothing more than to enable your bad choices and false emotions. They want to keep you down, questioning, doubting. Those people are out there. I think I would question a persons love for you if they are always doing for you what you want them to do and when they allow you to always do things that please them. True love is unconditional. True love allows you to learn, grow, and sometimes that means letting you make mistakes, and even feel pain. True love embraces the good and endures the hard times. Only God is perfect at that. Only Jesus can teach us how to strive for that. Only the Holy Spirit can guide our hearts, thoughts, mouths and steps.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but who ever trusts in the Lord is safe.
The only one we need to strive to please is God. He created us, loves us unconditionally, cares about our wellbeing, wants the best for us, never gives up on us, is always by our side, always patient and forgiving, he understands completely, gave his ONLY Son so that we could be in relationship him, and what he wants the most from us is our love, trust and obedience. He does not need us to be perfect; he knows that is an impossible task for us. We please him when we love him, trust him and give him the best we can give. No weakness, imperfection or mistake will ever change that as long as we give him our whole heart.
God, as I continue daily to give you my fears of failure, unwillingness to step out of my comfort zone, feelings of unworthiness, and my doubts of my purpose in life, I give to you my need to please people; my great desire for their love and attention. I am learning that all of these things will fade away as I put my trust in and focus on you. I am so thankful that you are so loving and patient. You are willing to remind me again and again what is really important in life. You continue to find ways to inspire and encourage; to teach and lovingly discipline me. In you I am courageous, I am bold, I am worthy, I have purpose, and you are pleased with me because you created me and you only create what pleases you. With all of my love and trust in Jesus' name Amen!
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