CONFORMING TO PLEASE PEOPLE?

Don't Get Caught Up with Pleasing People...They Won't be Pleased No Matter What!

BLOG BELOW BY:  Kim Gaines

Art by Larry "Poncho" Brown 

Romans 12:2 - New International Version (NIV)

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

One of the greatest temptations we face as Christians is the desire to please the world rather than God.  Our goal should be to please God.  But the temptation is always to seek to please men or to avoid their displeasure.  In an effort to be more acceptable to men we often fall into the world’s way of thinking and acting.

Put off any hurt, doubt, fear, rebellion, self-centeredness, lust, bitterness, negative thoughts and corrupt thinking and put on God's thoughts.

If we are not willing to yield, set aside and relinquish our own thoughts, then our thinking process will never be renewed and our lives will never be transformed.  God wants us to have the supernatural ability to discern everything that happens to us from His vantage point and His perspective and not get buried by own negative thoughts an feeling or by what we can “see” going on.  If we can see from his perspective, then we’ll be able to soar above our circumstances, our problems and our trails and not get buried under them. Whatever a man thinketh so is he.  We need the spirit of God to renew our minds and break down our hard hearts that blind and corrupt our minds.

Does the world see a kind person when they see us, or a tough nut to crack?  Do we carry a haughty or self-absorbed expression on our face, or a welcoming smile?  Do they see us groomed in a way that shows respect to others, or in a way that says, “I’m my own individual and I don’t really care if it bothers other people”?  Do they hear humility in our tone of voice, or arrogance?  Do they see someone who wastes his time and money, or do they see someone who is a faithful steward of God’s resources?  Does our attitude give the impression that we are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?  If we are going to stop conforming to the world’s values, it goes far beyond stopping sinful actions.  It demands kindness, respect, and humility in our attitudes and forms of communication, rather than selfishness and pride.

Blessings, Love and Kindness,

Kim

THE HEART AND SOUL

The Heart AND Soul

By Showanda Richardson, Ph. D.

Psalm 51:10 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A clean heart implies a careful and habitual (constant) guard against everything which tends to pollute the mind. All vicious (corrupt, wrong, nasty, hateful) company will be avoided as much as can be by those who have a clean heart. Intemperance (corruption, evil) will be carefully avoided by those who have an earnest concern to maintain a pure heart.

The text says, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God’; and the next part says, ‘Renew a right spirit within me.’ This is what we want every day. If clean to-day, it will be dirty to-morrow. Therefore we must say, ‘Renew a right spirit within me’ over and over again, every day. 

Proverbs 4:23 - New International Version (NIV)

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,    for everything you do flows from it.

The “heart” comprehends not only feeling, but intellect and will. It is the sphere of the emotions, of hatred and of love. It  is the home of thought.

As if a man tending to his garden, he purges it from weeds, if he cuts off the upper part and leaves the roots, they will spring up again: so if we discipline our body and let our heart remain complacent it is nothing. The heart is the fountain, from which springs all evil, the root from which all sin grows. No honest man will lodge in a filthy house, or drink or eat except the vessel is clean; and God cannot abide in a foul, unclean heart.

If you wish to be God’s children indeed, the Holy Spirit must work in your heart.— 

Be Blessed,

Soror Richardson

Reflect, Renew and Recharge!

Psalm 51:10 ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right^[a] spirit within me.

Easter/spring time is a time of new, refresh and recharge.  

Christ set the tone for new when He rose!

We must first acknowledge that we are not perfect or free from blemish. 

That’s why reflection and renewal are important to our spiritual growth and maturity.

Pray and ask God for the capacity/ability to reflect so that you may

be renewed for a new season of work; …for such a time as this.