People pleasing — the fear of man, or the fear of man’s opinions.

When you always consider what people think before doing anything, or filter your actions through other’s opinions, you are a ‘people pleaser‘ and it is a form of bondage.

God led me to be transparent of my experience with this and felt it needed be shared.

Whenever He told me to step out into something new or do something, I would always be concerned of what people would think.

I didn’t want people to think that I was being prideful or that I thought I was “all that.” I would wonder if people thought I wasn’t good enough or able to do the task or new thing He was telling me to do.

So aside from being afraid to actually do what He told me to do, I was also weighted down from the fear of what others would think about it.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in The LORD shall be safe.”

A snare is a trap used to catch animals and once the animal is caught, it is difficult for it to escape. So this verse is letting us know that fearing man will only lead to a trap.

If you fear (consider, put your trust in) man in all that you do instead of God, one way or the other it will lead you to a trap which will be difficult to get out of.

If man’s opinions outweigh God’s word and The Holy Spirit’s leading in your life, you will not prosper. You will be led down a path of continuous bondage in all that you do.

But if you put your trust in God (consider His ways, His word) above all, you will be safe.

So when that fear of man comes creeping up in your mind, cast it down and remember that it can never lead to anything good.

The enemy may try to bombard you with the fear of what others think, what others have to say, or what others will do, but as you cast it down and exalt God’s truth, those thoughts will have no place in you.

People pleasing prevents you from doing what God has called you to do.

Years ago when God first showed me that I was to go into ministry, the first thing that came to my mind was fear — fear of what others would think about it and me.

“Will they think I’m good enough?”

“Will they think I’m ready?”

“I hope they won’t think I’m prideful.”

“I hope I don’t mess up so people won’t look down on me because of it….”

. And of course my usual one, “I was not meant to do this!”

So much easier sitting back in that comfort zone rather than stepping out. But The LORD said to me Words I have carried with me for years when I went through that transition period, “Fear not their faces!”

My greatest hindrance (other than how I saw myself) was what others would think, I battled with this for months until I finally obeyed God and stepped into it.

People pleasing will cripple you from ever obeying God or it will be such a hindrance that it will be a battle to obey.

God had to deliver me from people’s opinions in order for me to fully walk in what He called me to walk in.

In our walk with God we will get many tests of choosing to obey God or obey man (or the fear of man).

There are children who don’t obey God because they fear what their parents will think or do. There are ministers who won’t obey God in an area of ministry, because they know others won’t support them or be for them.

There are pastors leading whole Churches who won’t obey God on certain matters concerning The Church, because they fear the congregation will oppose them.

Imagine what is being held up, simply because we fear man more than God?

Your fear may be an actual fear or a perceived one, but if you want to live to please God and live out all that He has for you, you cannot worry about pleasing man.

The Apostle Paul put it plain and straight forward in Galatians 1:10,

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” NLT.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you have to be willing to obey God even to the death, no matter what anyone thinks about it.

Some may not try to kill you physically, but they may try to kill you emotionally, verbally, or even through manipulation (aka witchcraft). If you are bound to people, you will bend.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28.

We can’t wait for people to validate or approve of the things that God has us to do, the places He has us to go, the positions He has us in, and etc. If that were the case we would never really get anything done.

Everyone simply isn’t going to be for you. Some people won’t like the fact that God put you in a certain position instead of them or “so and so.”

Some people will simply be jealous of the things that God has you to do or the assignment(s) He has you to walk in — and this is even in The Church and among believers.

It’s just the truth of the matter; we live in a fallen world and in a corrupt flesh. Everyone who says they are a believer isn’t healed and whole in every area so their lack of being made whole in certain areas manifests in different ways.

Don’t stop obeying God because of how they may feel about you.

Now this does not mean that you don’t seek Godly counsel or listen to and honor your parents or your spiritual leaders.

Let every word be established by two or three witnesses. If you’re just doing whatever you want without ever heeding any wise counsel, then you’re in dangerous territory.

Be wise and be Spirit led, but don’t be bound!

I can now say with a holy boldness that I am not sitting back in that people pleasing mindset anymore. I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but that is okay. The wildflower in a field of roses.

Just be you and know you live and serve an audience of One! Fear not their faces, just be you and move to deeper territory with your King!

Dare to be different in a world full of ordinary!

 

~ Dana Jarvis

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Dana Jarvis has a calling upon her life and Hezekiah’s Wall Ministry came from a Word The LORD spoke to her. His words resonated in her Spirit and is what Hezekiah’s Wall Ministry is all about ~ to Equip, Empower, Encourage, and Raise Up his Sons and Daughters for such a time as this!
A Prophetic Seer/ Intercessor, Minister, Author & Christian Coach/ Prophetic Mentor, Dana is blessed by Abba to be one of His Leading Ladies for such a time as this. Feel free to contact Dana as she would love to hear from you!

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