I can't believe I'm actually sitting here with an opportunity to write! Seems like it's been next to impossible lately!! I have missed this time so much and feel like I have a lot of catching up to do.
I used to have this quote hanging on my wall where I worked years ago: "I can only please one person per day - today is not your day and tomorrow doesn't look good either." It was interesting that I found it today because God has been dealing with me on this very thing.
The sign is a humorous jab at dealing with the frustrations of trying to make everyone happy, knowing that no matter what you do, you will still make some of them unhappy. However, I see a little more to it today.
You see, even though we can try with all our might to please people and make sure they are happy with our efforts, when we do that we have our focus all wrong. The "one person" we should please every day? That is God. That's it! There's no one else on this exclusive list. Nowhere in God's word does it say that our goal in life is to please everyone or anyone in our life. We are to love them, and serve others as unto the Lord, but that does not mean we say yes to all their demands on our time, energy and resources. There is a difference!
When you choose to please God above all others, then you will be led by His spirit and you will naturally move in His will for your life. Sometimes the people around you will support your actions as you move by His leading, but more often than not, they really won't. Why? Because of their own sinful, selfish nature and because they don't have the revelation that God is trying to do something.
It's human to want everything the way WE want it - from others and ourselves. But our thoughts are not His thoughts and His ways are much higher than ours. We oftentimes have to move by his directions in total blind faith, not yet understanding why He has us doing certain things. As time goes on and he allows us to reflect back, however, it looks much clearer to us and we begin to understand. That is why it is SO important we are obedient to His voice. If we don't move how He directs, we get all messed up and off track. He then has to resort to allowing uncomfortable things into our path in order to get our attention and bring us back to where we left off listening to Him. It can be painful, but it is for our good.
Think about what your motives are for all the things you agree to. Is it because God is truly telling you to do those things? Or is it because it's uncomfortable to say no? Is it embarrassing to admit you just might not be able to do it all, like everyone thinks you can? If you're building up resentment or simply exhausted from all you are doing, it just might be time for some pruning. If you think your works of the flesh mean anything to God, you are mistaken. Because when you are running yourself ragged, even for good and noble things, if your heart is not joyful while you're serving, you're not doing it unto the Lord. One day we will be judged for our works as the Lord looks over our lives of service to Him. Only those things done with the right heart will be honored. All the laboring with a grumbling, complaining attitude? Nothing but a heap of ashes.
So, if this is how you're feeling, take a time out from all your striving and be honest about what you can really do -- more importantly -- what God is leading you to do. He might be leading you to lay down some things, good things even, for the sake of really being able to get out of you what He's after -- the real works He prepared in advance for you to do.
Get your eyes off people's opinions and refocus on God. He's been waiting ... ... ...
Amen
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