Proverbs 29:25 

“It is dangerous trap to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.”   Proverbs29:25 (TEV)

When You Don’t Know How To Say “No”:

YOU MISS GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.”  1 Thessalonians 2:4b (NLT) 

YOU STUNT YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

“You try to get praise from each other, but you do not try to get the praise that comes from the only God. So how can you believe?”  John 5:44 (NCV) 

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong!”  Exodus 23:2a (NIV)

“ Then Saul admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.” 1 Samuel 15:24 (NLT)

YOU FAIL TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF

Jesus: “You make yourselves look good in other people’s eyes but God knows your hearts.”  Luke 16:15a (TEV)

“You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord’s approval.”  2 Corinthians 10:18 (CEV) 

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”  Romans 12:2 (Ph)

YOU LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING JUDGED BY OTHERS

“No one had the courage to speak favorably about Jesus in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the leaders.”  John 7:13 (NLT) 

“Many people, including leaders, believed in Jesus. But they wouldn’t talk about it publicly out of their fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. They loved human approval more than they loved the approval of God.”  John 12:42-43

SIX TRUTHS TO REMEMBER:

GOD DOESN’T TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU

YOUR HAPPINESS SHOULDN’T COME FROM OTHER’S APPROVAL

Jesus: “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me.”  John 5:41 (NLT) 

“I am the One who comforts you! So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?”  Isaiah 51:12 (NLT)

FOCUS ON WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

“The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God will live forever.”  1 John 2:17 (TEV) 

Jesus: “The things that are highly valued by people are worth nothing in God’s sight.”  Luke 16:15b (TEV)

LIVE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE

Jesus: “I don’t try to please myself, but I only please the One who sent me.” John 5:30 (NCV) 

Paul: “I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 (NLT) 

WE WILL STAND BEFORE GOD ALONE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF OUR LIFE

“Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.”  Romans 14:12 (NLT) 

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, I, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when I come in my glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”  Luke 9:26 (NIV)