Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. — Galatians 1:10

Are you a people-pleaser? Do you crave the approval and love of others, at any cost?

Many of us have struggled with the desire to please others, including me. As a stage performer since my early years, I had to overcome the need to be loved through my “performance.” And that need-to-be-loved mentality transferred to my career, my social life and even my church.

This desire can become an addiction that not only affects your emotional health, but it also impacts your relationships with those who love you most, especially God. It can also affect your physical health and result in bad decisions.

All too often we tend to focus first on the chaos and drama each of us experience every day, and we can tend to lean toward what it takes to be accepted and loved. So many of us tend to define ourselves by the circumstances around us … like what we think others think about us, or how others have told us we should think or be … when we should avoid the negative influences and only care about how our Creator sees us.

It’s during these times of uncertainty that we need to stop and focus completely on what God thinks of us, and who He says we are, to confidently and peacefully make the right decisions and move through the most challenging times.

What we think of ourselves pales in comparison to how He sees us! He says we’re the apple of his eye, the head and not the tail … there’s so many verses in the Bible that tell us how we are each unique and special to Him.

So I encourage you to pray for God to show you His love in everyday things, and I pray you keep your eyes fixed on the love He has for us and all those around us, especially the people we interact with each and every day.

Besides, God promises us peace when we please him first and foremost. Proverbs 16:7 says When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (AMP)

With God’s favor, we can’t go wrong.

Prayer: God, thank you for showing me where my true focus should be, no matter the circumstances that surround me. Help me continually focus on what pleases you, and open my eyes to ways your love constantly surrounds me. And through Your wisdom, help me share your love with others. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Additional words to remember:

The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God… — Deuteronomy 28:13 (AMP)

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my (firm, immovable) rock and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:14