In today’s culture we are often warned about not seeking approval of man.* However, I’m not convinced people pleasing is always a bad thing. **

 Ultimately, God is our final judge and we must do what is pleasing to Him first and foremost . Could it be that sometimes pleasing other people IS pleasing to Him?  What a concept considering the God who stresses LOVE above all things!  For whatever reasons, most of us can relate to the desire to please others.

*Gal 1:10 ¹⁰ For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

**1 Cor 9:19-23 ¹⁹ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under he Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; ²¹ to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. ²³ I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Samantha in this entry has an idea of why she seeks approval from man.  It is something to think about!

From the journal . . . . February 2001

Lord, Samantha isn’t feeling real close to You.  She wants approval.  She said she wants approval of man because she doesn’t feel Your approval.  Why is that?  Lord, please don’t let me deceive myself, but why isn’t she feeling Your approval?

And God Said to Me

Samantha needs to know My unconditional love without My approval.  I am pleased with her, but I miss our intimate times. Your friend, Ramona,* spoke truth when she said, “If you give the time to God, He would make it up to you like He does with money.” That’s true.  I will do that.

Matthew 6:33  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. More 6:30-33

*Not real names

Wow Lord, that is so simple!  Help me to remember and to encourage others that Your love for us isn’t dependent on our actions or Your approval of us. Hmm. More of the unconditional love of the father heart of God. 

Romans 5:8-9  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

As I look back on the 50 years I’ve been walking with the Lord, I don’t regret any of the time I’ve spent journaling or just talking to Him. Of course now, any worrisome thing that didn’t get done is long forgotten. In hindsight it’s very easy to say, “What was I worrying about!?”

Jesus, I love the history we have!  You are so patient and so kind and You have been there all along!