I am a recovering Pleaser. It’s time to confess and apologize. I picked up Pleasing in my youth and have used it ever since.

Being a Pleaser has three negative aspects:

• It causes me to live dependent on others.
• It requires that I use your approval as my fuel source.
• And, it relegates God to second place.

Pleasing causes a person to live dependent on others.

I need your approval.  I need you to like me. If you don’t like me, I can’t to be around you. The approval of others is my greatest need. Your approval makes it a good day.

Pleasing causes me to use you.

I need people around who think I’m fun. Your praise is my fuel source. Your agreement says love. Needing your approval makes me an approval junkie. I get offended if you act independently.

God is relegated to second place.

I am emotionally dependent and spiritually immature. Praise of others is first. God is second.

Admission of a Pleaser

I don’t think I’m good enough. So, I take comfort in the distraction of your approval.

Prayer

Father, forgive me. I have lived on the approval of others. Help me live on your never ending, sacrificial love. Amen.

Bible Connection

A study on pleasing men:

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 slave of Christ. – Galatians 1:10 (LSB)

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (KJV)

The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.- Proverbs 29:25 (NASB1995)

just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.- 1 Corinthians 10:33 (NASB1995)