People Pleasers

I really am loving that Beth Moore devotional that talked about in a previous January post. Today it was about "people pleaser's." I admit that I have gone through much of my life trying to please everyone. I think this is an issue that many women and especially mom's face, although I have seen this effect men as well. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make people happy. The problem comes in when we forget who WE are because we get so good and transforming into whoever will make someone else happy. We do things that we would not do, or act, say, write, and change into things that would take us out of our created beings. We try to become someone that God did not create. After a while, we forget who WE really are and who God does really want us to be.
After reading 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Beth Moore gives a short teaching on Saul and his personal struggle with being a 'people pleaser'. Here are a couple quotes from the study.

We get a glimpse of Saul's root problem: Saul was hiding among the baggage. Self-consciousness constitutes the opposite of God-consciousness. Rather than gratefully rejoicing in the privilaege God was freely extending to him, Saul's concern ran to himself and what others would think of him.

...his actions seem to be the cry of a people pleaser, desiring to be liked rather than demanding to be respected.

Galatians 1:10 says this: Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Maybe this is so impacting to me because this is something I need to work on in my own life. I know that when Brenton was in ministry it got very easy to conform to what people wanted me to be. I didn't want to let the church, Brenton, or God look bad. I wanted to lead people to Christ and I was afraid that if I made a mistake all bets were off. I took out the power of God and put the power in myself. Its been amazing since we've been out of ministry that I can look back and see that I went a long time without know who "I" was. I am so glad I am on the journey to find out, because to be honest, I like me and I think I am fun!

So here is the question asked in the study: How has God been transforming you from a person always wanting to be liked and accepted into someone who simply wants to be obedient to the Lord, WHATEVER THE COST?
I think if you don't know the answer you might want to take some time, reevaluate, and find the answer. I know for me it's made a huge difference in my walk and relationships with friends, family, spouse, and God himself.