Is it possible for us to please God whom we cannot see far greater than it is for us to please people whom we can see? My prayer is that by providing some insightful data in this week’s blog, you will be able to answer this question for yourself.
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Why is it impossible to please people?
- Everyone will have their own personal opinion on every life issue, subject, and perspective.
- Each person has a different worldview, thus expectations, beliefs, and morality are more subjective than absolute.
- The human life-long experiences are unique to each of us thus each person is not the same.
- Many things, ideas, beliefs, customs, expressions of living that people fail to understand, typically they are frightened by.
- Each human-being is imperfect, flawed with the life-longed inclination toward sin.
Taking into consideration, this short list of realities about our humanity, what are some of the negative consequences of attempting to please difficult people all the time?
When we attempt to be a people pleaser all the time, we can become confused, we allow people to overly influence our decisions. We want their approval, and in some cases are desperate for it. We live from the outside in, according to other’s expectations, rather than from the inside out. We become more confused about what we think, feel and want. Sometimes we even feel guilty tuning into our own desires, feeling selfish for having them. Hearing so many voices, we can’t distinguish those coming from ourselves, others or God.
Signs of Danger
- You can neglect your overall health
- You become resentful and angry
- Depression and heighten distress become a mainstay
- You are not able to set effective personal boundaries
- The inability to enjoy other company or even God’s presence
If you are one of the literal millions of people who are struggling with this issue of pleasing people, let me give you ways in which you may regain your overall restorative health.
The Supremacy of Pleasing God over Man/Woman
Below are all of the most practical ways of pleasing our Heavenly Father. By practicing these disciplines daily, you will regain your spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance in a manner where you will appreciate the fact that you are “Fearfully and Wonderfully made.” [Psalm 139:14]
- Learn and practice Forgiveness in an effort at obtaining Peace. Without forgiveness, there is no peace. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:15] http://www.practicingourfaith.org/forgiveness
- Develop and maintain spiritual obedience. This is made only possible by learning and practicing what the Holy Scripture says to each follower as it pertains to “living the faith” as opposed to just knowing what the Word says. The difference between the two is the former is spirituality while the latter is religion. [1 Samuel 15:28, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…]
- Live each moment of your life with a humble sense of your inclination toward sin.[Psalm 32:5, I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.
- Demonstrate loyalty and the knowledge of God. God wishes our steadfast and faithful love in spite of our own unfaithfulness toward Him and one another. He equally requires that each of us maintain a healthy working knowledge of Him and His Kingdom. [Hosea 6:6, For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.]
- We are strongly encouraged to make ongoing sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to Him our Creator. [Psalm 69:30, I will praise God’s Name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.]
May our Loving Heavenly Father continue to bless you, guide you and restore your soul each blessed day that He grants us. I pray that this blog has in some way assisted you in your own spiritual walk.
Grace and Peace
Alonzo E. Thornton