Who Are You Trying to Please?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Philippians 2:3 NKJV

 

For so much of my life I was a bona fide people pleaser. Unsure of myself and lacking a healthy sense of self-esteem, I tried to be and do what I thought everyone else expected of me. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my efforts were rooted in pride and selfishness. I cared more about what people thought about me than I cared for those people. 

My misguided and performance-oriented efforts led to nothing more than hopelessness, anxiety, and feelings of being less than, never good enough. I was seeking acceptance and approval in the wrong places.

The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians that we should esteem others better than ourselves. The NLT says it like this: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

Once I found my true identity in Christ and took my focus off myself, I learned to be less self-conscious and more God-conscious. My approval and acceptance come from Him, and He is the only one I need to please—not others and not even myself. That revelation set me free to love others without any selfish motives.

One writer says that we should care about others even when they don’t care about us. That’s the love of God in action.

So ... who are you trying to please?

Photo by Ricky Kharawala on Unsplash

Are Your Words Producing a Good or Bad Harvest?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

 

As the woman shared all her woes for the week, the group discussion went down the proverbial rabbit hole as each woman attempted to one-up the other. “You think that’s bad, let me tell you …”

Some say if not for bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. And there’s always good old Murphy’s Law that says anything bad that can happen will happen.

Not only are these negative mindsets unhealthy and unscriptural, they’re contagious. They put us in a position of sowing bad seed which produces a bad crop. That’s the law of sowing and reaping found in Matthew 13. What we plant is what we reap. Or to put it plainly, what we give is what we get back.

We don’t realize how much power our words carry—both good and bad. James calls our tongue “an unruly evil full of deadly poison” (3:8 KJV). Proverbs tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (18:21 NKJV).

When we want something different, we have to do something different. When we keep saying and doing the same old things, we’ll keep getting the same old results.

Jesus said in Mark 11:23 that we can have whatever we say—when we believe (His Word) in our hearts and have no doubts. That’s how faith works.

Let’s make a decision to be careful with our words and intentional about the seeds we’re sowing because we will reap what we sow. That’s a fact.

Photo by Volkan Olmez on Unsplash

Narrow Your Focus

 

By Andrea Merrell

Set your mind on the things above, 

not on the things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2 NASB 1995

The woman was stressed, frustrated, and completely burned out. Unable to say no, she had committed herself to so many projects, she could never keep up. She had spread herself so thin, she wasn’t doing anything well.

“You’re trying to do too much,” the counselor said to the distraught woman. “You need to cut some things from your life and narrow your focus.”

Every one of us is looking for a positive focus. Many find their identity in what they accomplish or acquire. It might be a job, a sport, or a hobby. It could be a child or other family member. It might mean working too hard or volunteering for every project that presents itself. Or it could simply mean trying to please one’s self above all else.

The truth is God planted that longing in the human heart, and He is the only One who can fully satisfy it. The Bible tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. That’s where our main focus should always be. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT).

When we put God first and take delight in Him, He promises to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). Satisfaction. Peace, The desires of our heart. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. How about you?

Do you need to narrow your focus?

Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash

Are You in Alignment?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Present your bodies a living sacrifice …

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

 

The car was so far out of alignment that it constantly pulled to one side, making it hard to stay on the road. It finally became undriveable and had to be put in the repair shop.

We can be just like that car, out of kilter, pulling one way or another, making it hard to stay on that straight and narrow path.

What do we do when this happens?

Romans tells us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and to be transformed by renewing our minds. But how do we do that? The Message translation makes it clear and plain:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

The key is fixing our attention on the Lord. Hiding His Word in our hearts. Putting on the mind of Christ. Bringing our thoughts, words, and actions into agreement with His.

Romans 8:6 says that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (KJV). It’s a matter of allowing the Spirit of God to control our thought life and bring our soul into agreement with our spirit. 

That's how we stay in perfect alignment.

   

Photo by Edz Norton on Unsplash

             

The Big Picture

 

By Andrea Merrell

And we know that all things work together 

for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

 

With the edges firmly in place, we went to work on the inner portion of the puzzle. With so much similarity in colors and all the oddly shaped pieces, it turned out to be quite the challenge. Just when we thought we had it mastered, something didn’t quite fit.

Jigsaw puzzles have been around since the 1700s and come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The key to putting them together—and many times the only way to keep our sanity— is an occasional glance at the picture on the top of the box.

Our life is much like one of those puzzles, especially when the pieces don’t seem to fit together and we have no picture to go by.

The good news for us is that God already sees and knows the big picture, and He lovingly and methodically puts the pieces in place as we learn to trust Him. In the same way we can’t force the puzzle together, we can’t force portions of our life to line up the way we want them to when God has other plans. When we try to make it happen, the picture gets distorted.

We’re all familiar with the Scripture about all things working together for good (Romans 8:28), but I love the way the Passion translation explains it:

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son.

The big picture for us is being conformed to the image and likeness of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and only the Father knows what that looks like for each of us.

Trust Him to put all the pieces—even the broken and ragged ones—of your life together. The results will be amazing, and you won’t be disappointed.

Photo by Hans-Peter Gauster on Unsplash

 

Pulling Down Strongholds

 

By Andrea Merrell

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical

[weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God

for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4 AMPC

Do you have a stronghold in your life? I’ve certainly had a few.

Merriam-Webster’s describes stronghold as something fortified. In the Christian’s life, it can be anything that exalts itself against the knowledge—and the Word—of God, our ultimate truth.

Many times we receive wrong teaching that goes against that truth. It could be a conviction, a belief, or a habit. According to The Word for You Today, these are some of the most common strongholds we deal with:

• Guilt – God could never forgive me.
• Resentment – I could never forgive that person.
• Self-pity – Bad things always happen to me.
• Pride – I have to be in charge.
• Rejection – I don’t deserve to be loved.
• Defeat – I’ll never recover.
• Performance – I must be good or God will reject me.
• Appearance – I’m only as good as I look.
• Materialism – My value equals my possessions.

The good news is God never intended for us to live under these false premises. Strongholds are meant to be broken, and He has given us the tools: His Word, prayer, fasting, the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and His very own weapons of warfare (see Ephesians 6).

Don’t allow strongholds to keep you imprisoned in a state of perpetual frustration and even depression. Use God’s mighty weapons to overthrow, destroy, and completely obliterate them.

Photo by Daria Lyalyulina on Unsplash

Finding Your True Self

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

 

My friend and I were discussing the past, which brought up a plethora of memories—many good, others not so much.

I thought about the struggles I faced in those earlier years with fear. Low self-esteem. Anger. Trying desperately to fit in. I was, as they say, a hot mess.

Fortunately, I hardly recognize that person any longer. In a way, it’s like she never existed. It’s hard to look back and try to remember her at all because so much has changed.

The Bible explains it as becoming a new creation in Christ. The old passes away, and everything becomes new. The Passion translation puts it like this:

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.

During those rough years, I had no clue who I was. I constantly searched for my identity, my true self. And it was only found when I realized who I am in Christ. How He sees me. What He says about me in His Word. Once I surrendered completely to Him, my life changed dramatically and I became, just as the Bible says, an entirely new person.

If you’re searching to find your true self, stop looking in all the wrong places. Your worth, your identity, and all that you were created to be is found only in Christ.

Photo by Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

That Still, Small Voice

 

By Andrea Merrell

But the Lord was not in the wind; 

and after the wind an earthquake,

but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  

and after the earthquake a fire,

but the Lord was not in the fire; 

and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19: 11-12 NKJV

“What does God sound like?” the little girl asked her mother.

Her mother thought long and hard before answering. “Sometimes like a whisper.”

The child’s eyes widened. “You mean like when you lean over close to me in church and go shhhh?”

The mother chuckled. “Yes, something like that.”

So many of God’s children struggle to hear His voice. They wait for a thunderclap, a loud command, or even the proverbial writing on the wall.

Elijah the prophet was no different. He listened for God in a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a great fire. But what he heard instead was a still, small voice. A gentle whisper.

God speaks to His own in many different ways, but He is always communicating with us. One thing we can count on is that His voice is never harsh, condemning, or overpowering. That, my friend, is the voice of the Enemy.

Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). Jesus, our loving Shepherd tenderly cares for those who follow Him.

Are you following Him. Are you listening for that still, small voice?

Photo courtesy of Microsoft 365.

A Good Work Ethic

 

By Andrea Merrell

And whatever you do, do it heartily, 

as to the Lord and not to men.

Colossians 3:23 NKJV

“You want me to do what?” the woman exclaimed with a shocked look on her face. “That’s way beneath my pay grade—and beneath me!”

To solve the problem, the boss jumped in and cleaned up the mess.

Then he fired the woman.

Finding those with a good work ethic is getting harder in today’s society where the new generations seem to be born with entitlement issues, expecting to have everything handed to them. Many think work is beneath them.

But God created work right after He created man. He delighted in His creation, then gave him the responsibility of tending the garden.

According to The Word for You Today, “Work gives us a sense of purpose, meaning, and dignity. There are no small jobs, only people who perceive them as small and become small in doing them.”

The woman thought she was too good to do menial tasks, and her pride cost her a high-paying job.

What is the key to building and maintaining a good work ethic? Doing the very best job we can and doing it as unto the Lord—for His approval alone.

Someone once said, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.”

Photo by Merakist on Unsplash

Take Up Your Sword

 

By Andrea Merrell

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 AMP

“On guard!” the man shouted. Instantly, two swords sliced through the air as the crowd watched in anticipation.

Fencing has always fascinated me, especially watching those who are proficient in the sport and precise in their movements. One well-placed jab can take out the opponent.

Even though I enjoy being a spectator, I’ve never had the slightest desire to try it myself. My only desire is to learn to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”—the most powerful weapon in both heaven and earth.

Hebrews 4:12-13 in the Message translation explains it this way:

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

Just as an opponent can be taken out with a natural sword, we are meant to take out our Enemy with the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus defeated him in the desert with the words “It is written …” 

We can do the same.

Pick up your sword every day and keep it sharp.

Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash

Feed Your Faith

 

By Andrea Merrell

So then faith comes by hearing, 

and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

“You gotta have faith!” the speaker said emphatically. “You must believe that God will do what He says He will do.”

Afterward, my friend said to me, “Sometimes I don’t think I have any faith at all. My doubts seem to choke out what little is in me. What should I do?”

“Feed it,” I said.

She frowned. “And how exactly do I do that?”

The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing. By hearing what? God’s Word. One of my former pastors used to say, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing.”

We believe what we hear from friends and family. Even podcasts and news reports. The more we hear, the more encouraged—or discouraged—we become. It’s the same with the Word. The more we hear it, the more we believe it, and the greater our faith grows.

But listening to a sermon once or twice a week (or even less) will never be enough. Just like we feed our body, we need to feed our faith. And since we believe what we say most of all, the more we speak and confess the Word, the more our faith will flourish.

My friend finally got it. She began to put the Word in her mind, her mouth, her ears, and her heart. The transformation was amazing.

If you deal with doubt and unbelief, there’s only one sure cure: start feeding your faith a regular diet of the powerful, life-changing Word of God.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Celebrate Your Now

 

By Andrea Merrell

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 NLT

 

The woman was miserable. In every conversation with her, she was either stuck in the past or projecting herself into the future, never content with her “now.”

One writer say that now is the greatest moment in our lives. Why? Because it’s all we have.

The psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made.” Today.  Right now.  This moment. His mercies are new when? Every morning (Lamentations 3:23). With each new sunrise, we experience a new day. New beginning. Fresh start. Clean slate. No looking back at yesterday and no longing for tomorrow.

Our days are a gift from God, and He gives them to us one at a time in twenty-four-hour increments because He knows that’s all we can handle. And when we commit each one to Him, rejoicing and being glad in it, He guides our steps and blesses our moments.

Don’t spend your life trying to relive the past or longing for tomorrow. It might be, as the song says, “only a day away,” but the most precious moment you have is now. Celebrate it and be thankful.

Photo by Yulin Wang on Unsplash

Take the High Road

 

By Andrea Merrell

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,

and his ears are open to their prayers.

1 Peter 3:9 NLT

 

My emotions were a jumbled mess. I didn’t know whether I was hurt or angry. Probably both. How could she possibly say something like that to me?

My flesh wanted to lash out. To retaliate. I wanted to make her feel as bad as she made me feel. But when I shared my situation with a close friend, her words were simple: take the high road.

As I prayed about my attitude, Scriptures shot through my mind and heart. Don’t repay evil for evil. Forgive. Bless your enemies. Walk in love. Don’t try to avenge yourself; the battle is the Lord’s.

It all came together in 1 Peter 3: 8-9 (NLT):

Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.  For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

God’s Word is clear, and He gives us a choice to obey.

I choose the high road. How about you?

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Dave Hoefler.

Grow in Grace

 By Andrea Merrell

But grow in the grace and knowledge 

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 NIV

 

“What are you thinking?” the woman said to her pastor. “That man is not fit for ministry. He’s a fairly new believer. Look how many times he’s messed up.” With that, she stormed out of the room.

It’s amazing how we tend to size up other believers and critique their level of spiritual maturity. Their readiness—or lack of—for serving. Their dedication and commitment.

When we set ourselves up as both judge and jury, we base our opinion solely on the outside. Thank goodness, God sees the heart.

For example, look at Peter. He was a bit of a rascal. He cut off a man’s ear, denied Jesus, and challenged Him on more than one occasion. But Jesus knew Peter’s heart and never gave up on him. He saw Peter’s potential, not his problems. That’s what grace does.

Just as a newborn has to learn and grow, a babe in Christ has to go through the stages of spiritual childhood and adolescence to reach maturity. And who is qualified to determine the level a believer has reached? Only the Lord.

I’ve seen brand-new baby Christians take off like a rocket while others who have been believers for years are still sitting back in their playpen, holding their bottles, and criticizing those who are zealous for the Lord’s kingdom.

Let’s leave the judging to God while we concentrate on growing in grace.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Alex Shute.

Don’t Believe Everything You See and Hear

 

By Andrea Merrell

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits,

whether they are of God; because many false prophets

have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 NKJV

 

I got excited when Facebook started posting new movies coming out, all with some of my favorite actors. I made a list so I wouldn’t miss any of them.

Then I found out all the posts were AI generated. Bogus. Untrue. Fake. A scam.

There was a heartwarming post that almost made me cry—until I saw that exact same scenario with different people in different settings.

Again … bogus.

In this day of modern technology, folks can post whatever they want, whenever they want, to try and make us believe whatever they want us to believe. It’s nothing more than deceit and manipulation—sometimes for monetary gain, sometimes just for no reason.

The Devil works in the same way, twisting things around to try and make us embrace a lie. The Bible calls him the father of lies. He will package things in a way to make us think they are true, lovely, and desirable.

The Bible tells us to “test the spirits.” How do we do that? The Message translation explains it like this: “Don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you.”

Don’t be gullible or mislead by what is false. Pray. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. Use discernment. And make sure what you embrace lines up with God’s Word.

Photo by Hartono Creative Studio on Unsplash.