People Pleaser

“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.”

-Galations 1:10

…I am a people pleaser. I say that all the time. And when I say it, I say it in order to justify myself, to excuse my behavior.

When I read this verse the other night I had no idea what to think. How can you not please people but still show love in your heart?

But now, I realize something: pleasing people is not love. They are totally separate. In the context of this chapter, it is stating that the gospel is notr by human origin, but rather comes straight from Jesus. And when we please people before God, we are inevitably denying Him in that moment. Our purpose is to glorify God, but when we put humans before God, we cannot Glorify Him.

But how do we put God before ourselves? 

I came across this verse because of a devotional called “#Struggles”. The devo is supposed to point out that even though our life is getting “busier, crazier, and more frantic” we must relearn to put God as our center, not Taylor Swift, our iPhones, or Netflix. The introduction to the devo says “the more we’re consumed with the things of this earth, the more we feel empty inside”. The emptiness is where God should be. People who put God first no matter what are happier, and I want to have that happiness all the time.

As for how do we do it? I don’t know. But diving into His Word, praying, and turning to GOD to solve your problems rather than your family or friends is a great way to start! 

Quit labeling yourself as a people pleaser. 

In every situation, do the Godly thing. Not what will impress people most.

I pray for us that one day, the Godly thing to do will be easy. And I also pray that one day when we do the Godly thing, it will also be the most impressive to everyone around us.

Let your heart shine with the Light of God, not the Light of this Earth.

Story Time: 

Yesterday, my best friend and I sat down in a fast food restaurant across from campus. While she was gone filling up our drinks, I had the sudden urge to pray over the meal we were about to eat. I thought about how we both needed to be prayed for, and how beautiful it would be to pray for my friend. As she walked back to the table, I started convincing myself not to pray in public. People would look at us, and I didn’t want that judgement. And I also decided that my friend would just want to eat, not pray.

But, somehow, I got passed all that and blurted “Do you want to pray first?” I expected her to hesitantly say, “Oh, I guess so.” or “Yeah, we probably should…” But instead her response was “Yeah!” And after we finished our prayer, she thanked me for praying for her, and I could feel how much she needed that, and I was so happy to do that for her. 

I was able to put God before the people in that restaurant, and my heart felt so light and happy. 

I hope this for all of you: get passed the excuses not to do something and do whatever God is pushing you to do.

❤️,

sSm

Dear Future Husband

I apologize in advance for how cliché and predictable this post may be. One of the biggest things I’m obsessed with and pray about and think about is basically about the man I’m going to marry. I create so many stereotypes of how we will meet, what he’ll look like, and who he’ll be. And lately my biggest struggle has been to understand that God has the answers and that it will become realistic whenever He is ready. I have attempted to cut out these daydreams of mine, but honestly I enjoy them so much and the idea of the man I will eventually marry really helps me look towards the future God has in store for me.
Some of this letter is going to be superficial and worldly rather than Godly, and I’m sorry for that. But this is also my heart:

Dear Future Husband,
My, my! There is so much pressure in writing you a note. I don’t know how to organize it or what to say. (Basically my struggle with everything so get ready).
First of all, HELLO! I am so excited to eventually meet you! Even though I don’t know you yet, I can not wait to start a life with you. Not to sound creepy or anything, but I think about you a lot and I often fall asleep talking to God about you.
As you’ll soon learn, my family is a mess. I’ve never really existed in a home with a mom and a dad, or- even scarier- a husband and wife that has God set as their foundation. I don’t know how to do that, and I have no one to really look up to that has that. I hope you do, but I know that is something I cannot count on. One of my biggest fears about you and I is the struggle we might have to always put God first in our relationship. I am trying to work on that in my life and I hope that you are too.
Something I want you to know: there are girls out there savings themselves for the right man, just like I am for you. We live in a world where that’s not the social norm anymore, but I want you to know that it is for me. And even though we live in a world with double standards, I expect the same respect from you. We are going to be wonderful together, I promise, but we need to do it God’s way.
And God’s way also means meeting at the time and place God intends. I have struggled with what I want us to be rather than what God has planned for us, and I am really trying hard to walk His path rather than my own. I don’t know if we have already met, or if you’ll be in my next group project in college, or if I’ll catch a random guy (you) staring at me from across the coffee shop. However it happens, though, I know it will be perfect in God’s own way. God has finally helped me find some peace when it comes to who you will be, how we will meet, and how strong our relationship will be.
When I think about us I often see all of the flaws and shortcomings that I will bring to our relationship, and I want you to know that I am working on them. Everything I am doing now will affect us later, and I hope you're out there living the same way.
I’m excited to hear about all your stories one day. I can’t wait to make memories with you, marry you, and create a life with you!
I send you all of my love and hope and prayers forever,
Steeli Morgan [your last name]