Puppet and People Pleasers

I used to be a puppet. I was jerked around by the strings of other people's opinions, my own insecurities, and my own fears. I was building my life around what others thought of me. It was stupid, idolatrous, and boring. I was a people pleaser.

"Becoming obsessed with what people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me," said Craig Groeschel, pastor of Lifechurch.tv

Check out what the Apostle Paul told the church in Galatia:

Galatians 1:10 "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."

Paul was not a people pleaser. He told the Galatians that they can't be people pleasers and be servants of Christ at the same time. The two don't mix. It seems that we all have a tendency to be people pleasers. Too many of us live for the approval of others when God's opinion is all that matters! Right?

Here are few simple ways that I've overcome being a people pleaser:

*More detailed article on my personal blog HERE.

1. Be Yourself

Don't compare yourself with others. God made you to be you. Who are YOU?

2. Accept The Fact That Everyone Will Not Like You

One of the quickest ways to wear yourself out is trying to get everyone to like you. We just have to swallow the fact that some people won't like us.

3. Speak Up

Be honest. Express your feelings. Confront people when you are angry or bitter. Communicate clearly, respectfully and politely, but confidently.

4. Just Say "NO!"

You are not a slave! Some of you are saying yes to everyone and you think you are being so kind but your "acts of kindness" are based out of fear and guilt, not kindness. I bet most of you have a "to do" list. Some of us need to make a "stop doing" list.

Don't be a puppet.

-Jason Kimbrow