Mysty PfefferWhat Truly Pleases My Heart
What activities can I do today to please God?
Maybe I’ll start the day with gratitude instead of discontent. I may not be where I expect to be in my career. Or I may not be in the place of residence I desire. However, I can be thankful for work and shelter. Striving to do things that please others won’t help me either. Instead, I find myself saying repeatedly, “You can please the world or please God, but you can’t do both.”
Although I don’t’ consider myself a people pleaser, I can easily confuse being a peacemaker with people-pleasing. So the question to ask me is, “Does this activity honor God, and what is my motive?” In answering this question, I determine where my heart is.
If I create a post to give myself more likes, God sees. Instead of helping someone stop doubting herself today, God knows.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV – But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not – Bible Gateway
What Pleases My Mind
If I’m focusing on myself, I’ll spend more time and money correcting physical flaws. I’ll spend less on building a solid haven of encouragement for others. I forgo intentional, forgiving, and loving character building needed to sustain faith that attracts others to know Jesus.
Moreover, I can be content with the body God gave me. In all its imperfections, this body keeps me humble. If I’m honest with myself, its physical flaws prevent an overflow of vanity. They stop a feeling of puffed-up pride and distance from God.
I’d rather be joyful for legs capable of walking than focused on their imperfections. Maybe, those deeper lines will remind me of why I am continually smiling. The crepe arms holding little ones also enjoy tasty desserts. Most of all, I can be grateful for a voice that encourages others. I can also appreciate a mind that can be intentional about sharing Jesus.
I feel free saying goodbye to the what-ifs, attaining popularity, and material possessions that fade. What a relief! Saying goodbye to activities that seek to impress others provides deep satisfaction. This brings a more profound feeling of well-being to my soul.
The Deceiver Pleases the World
Need I remind myself daily of the dark one who deceives as an angel of light?
And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So, it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+11%3A+13-15&version=ES
He was beautiful and talented, yet his pride brought more and more discontent. It also drew him farther and farther away from God, to the point of complete rebellion. In his pride, he thought himself higher than God. Finally, he grew so delusional in his self-love that he gathered heavenly beings around him to overthrow his Creator.
How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven, above the stars of God. I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol to the far reaches of the pit
Isaiah 14:12-14 ESV – “How you are fallen from heaven, O – Bible Gateway
How naive to be so deceived by his own brilliance, ability, and beauty. It points me to a place of thankfulness for my inability, bodily flaws, and limited talent. I am content with what God has given me, where he has placed me, and the clarity of what matters.
Clarity Helps Me Avoid Deception
Unlike the dark one, this clarity helps me remain in favor of God. This world holds no power over me as it does him. He is still striving to win souls to his dark purpose and separate them from God. He’ll tempt people to be discontent with their gifts. He will make them doubt their gifts. He’ll lead them to love the gifts more than God who gave them.
It is the ultimate deception.
Therefore, today I choose an attitude of acceptance for my physical flaws. I embrace my limited ability and draw on the joy of pleasing Jesus for my contentment. Because I know I can please the world, or I can please God, but I can’t do both.
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