Who do we most fear disappointing? How do we make our decisions?
How much time do we spend thinking about what others think of us?
How much time do we spend wondering what God thinks of us?
I think these are repeat questions that we need to ask ourselves more than once because they are so situational.
I'm trying to identify where I am seeking to live up to other people's expectations.
It leaves me so tired.
Sometimes I base a decision on my kids being happy with me, or just quiet for a minute.
Other times I overthink what every person on the planet may misunderstand about me.
Mankind is fickle; God is not.
This makes people hard to please while God’s pleasure in us doesn’t depend on our performance.
He doesn’t change. He loves us constantly.
As a parent, I always love my children, but there are times that I am more proud of them than others. That's the truth. It doesn't change my love for them.
God is even better at this. His love is completely constant never ebbing and flowing with the tide of emotion. But I think that He can be proud of us too, when we choose the right thing under pressure. I think mostly when we choose to honor Him above other people's opinions.
So I’m asking myself this question this week, how can I please God more?
He’s already smiling at me. That makes me want to make His smile bigger.
I know one thing He loves, when we believe Him. I'm always delighted when my children trust me to answer their questions and help with them.
Fear of man will prove a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man, constant wondering who will be disappointed in me, won't agree, or misunderstand leaves me exhausted.
I'm going to keep asking myself these questions so that I can identify my motivations. I'm going to focus on just pleasing my Father because that keeps me from all kinds of traps.
The next time you are feeling pressure in a moment or a decision, ask yourself where its's coming from. Identify and adjust who your pleasing.