“They” say:

• You should wear your hair this way.
• You should weigh this much.
• You should dress this way.
• You should never eat at this restaurant.
• You should discipline a child this way.
• You should change your color décor to this color.

How often we worry about what “they” say or what “they” think!

People pleasing is older than the Bible! I know it’s not a newsflash, but we must get to a point that we stop living to please people, or worse try to please everyone. Even God cannot please everyone! Jesus said, “I only seek to please Him who sent me.”

I confess that I do try to live my life by what “they” say… that is if “they” are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As long as I am walking a life that pleases God, that is all that is needed.

Wait, you mean we can disregard people? Not at all!  Am I talking about living to please myself, and living a self-centered life? No way!

As long as I am walking in a way that pleases God, it will affect how I treat my husband, my children, my grandchildren, my friends, my co-workers, my pastor, my clerk when I checkout at the grocery store and even those with whom I disagree. I’m sure you get the picture. Not being a people pleaser, in no way is a license to be hurtful, hateful or harmful.

Don’t spend all your energy trying to make people like you. Choose to follow God’s Word and plan for your life. It is one of the most freeing things I have ever done for myself. It would be nice if “they” all liked me, but that is not going to happen.

I choose to walk my life not being imprisoned by others, but freed by God to be all I can be in Him.  Which “they” will control your life?

“Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (Good News Translation)