Being a People Pleaser...

Okay so I actually just typed this entire post out and then deleted it! Are you kidding me?! How could I have done such a thing!? I was trying in embed a video from youtube and completely screwed up 25 minutes worth of work!

Okay that was my vent. Here is what the post said....

So last week, I did what we call a "call to Christ" on stage in front of our middle and high school kids at church. The way it works is the kids watch a video message/teaching. Then someone comes up and does what we call "the close." The close is basically supposed to help kids relate to the message, possibly reveal something about the speaker that the kids can relate to, challenge the kids, and then give those who don't know Christ, a chance to ask Him into their hearts. I thought you might find it interesting to read what I said. I will leave out a lot of the examples and hand raising questions.

It went something like this:

"What an amazing message, but I want to take it one step further. How many of you would say that not only do you attempt to please people, but you try to impress people? Yeah, most of us. 


We naturally try to impress other people. Pastor Craig mentioned the 4 things that people pleasers do. 


The first: People pleasers take criticism personally. (example was included)


Secondly, people pleasers often find it hard to express their true feelings. (example was included)


The 3rd thing people pleasers do is they have an extraordinary fear of rejection. 


I know when I was in middle school and high school, this one was huge for me. I wanted to be "cool" so bad. I wanted to be liked, and I was willing to do anything to feel accepted. It's the reason I took my first sip of alcohol. It's the reason I went too far with guys. I just didn't want to feel rejected. How many of you can honestly say that you have that same fear of rejection? You just want people to like you...


And the last thing that people pleasers do, is they have a hard time saying no. (example was included)


All of us have some desire to please and impress others. We desperately want to be liked. The problem is, we often get wrapped up in attempting to please others and we forget that our main goal should be to please God. You may have to change some things in your life if you really want to please God. 


I want you all to think right now about something in your life that may be pleasing to others, but that you know is not pleasing to God. Ask God what you're doing that He wants you to let go of. While you're thinking about that thing, let's pray...


Father, I thank you for stirring in us. I ask, Lord, that you make each of us very aware of the things in our life that you want us to change so that we can focus more on pleasing you and less on pleasing the world. Father show us these things and give us the strength to change them no matter how many people aren't pleased with us. Remind us this week, that our job is to please you, not the world. 


While we're still praying tonight, I know there are some of you here tonight who don't personally know Jesus. There are those of you who think you'd like to be able to please God, but you don't even know where to start. The great thing about our God is that you don't have to do it alone. The bible says that if you declare with your lips that Jesus is Lord, then you will be saved. 


Some of you have spent your entire lives attempting to please the world, and unfortunately you'll never be able to please the world. Instead our focus should be on pleasing God, our heavenly Father. 


If you've never asked Jesus into your heart and you know that you want more from life than what you have, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've done in the past, He will take you exactly as you are. If you ask Jesus, into your heart, you will immediately be washed clean and made new. 


If you want to be made new, if you want to be washed clean, if you don't want to walk alone anymore, and you want to ask Jesus into your heart, then raise your hand and meet me eye to eye. 


As a family, we pray out loud together, this prayer:


Father thank you for sending your only son to die on a cross for me. I know that I'm a sinner. I need a saviour. Come into my heart. Make me new. Today I make you Lord and leader of my life. I promise to follow you all the days of my life. In Jesus name we pray....Amen!"

If you haven't yet seen this video from Carrie Underwood, you have to check it out. Inspirational and moving. How Great Thou Art....