The subject of worry is an interesting thing because the basis of worry is the constant dwelling on certain aspects that are not real. For example I know people who fear flying because they worry that something might happen to them when they fly. There is a higher probability that something will not happen than something will happen but the still the small percentage of the possibility cripples them from being able to respond correctly. The result is that the worry unnecessarily. It is an emotional response based upon evidence that is not real.
When comes to the subject of worrying about what others think about us it is the same. Chances are that others are not thinking about us but because we worry that they are we do all type of things to impress them. We forget that the one person’s opinion that matters about who we are is God’s.
A good rule of thumb is to first do your best to please the Father and afterwards if you can please others. If it is not possible to please both the Father and please others then opt to please the Father. Chances are you will not be able to please everyone all of the time but at least at the end of the day you will be able to say you did your best to please the one that it matters the most.
A few things to help you to keep pleasing the Father first:
- Know what pleases the Father. When it is someone’s birthday we usually spend time investigating what pleases them so that we get them what they like. It is the same with the Father. We should spend time investigating what pleases Him.
- Do what pleases The Father first before you do anything else. Chances are if you do what pleases the Father first you will have accomplished the most important thing in your day.
- Do not allow the pressure and expectations of others pressure you into making bad priority decisions. Pressure, whether real or perceived, many times makes us do things we do not want to do. Do not bow your knees to pressure.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
Questions:
- How do you recognize when you are conforming to the image of what others think you should be and not who God desires for you to be?
- Can you identify the things that God desires for you to do right now in your life? What are they?
- What are some of the mechanisms that you have in place to keep you from falling into peer pressure?
Filed under: Uncategorized
This is a tough one for me. I have all the answers to justify why I should at least consider what others think of me in the light of the influence of my leadership position. Yet, when it comes down to it if I am pleasing the Father, as you state here, then the influence I have on others will come through that filter and be sufficient because He is my sufficiency. Good thoughts Babe. I love you!
Thanks Ang. It is always a check and balance thing but I do not think it is healthy when we spend too much time dwelling on what people think of us. The most important is always God.
Thanks, Babe.