Your peace should not be predicated by people... June 12 2015

Sometimes people like you and sometimes they don't. That doesn't and shouldn't matter. Your work is unto the Lord and must remain at the focal point of every battle you go through and everyone you encounter.
Watch that Mood Swing: When you're feeling down because of what people said or did, cancel that devil's assignment and cheer up! Your outlook will determine your altitude and you can go further by not letting people have their say in how you feel and what kind of mood you're in.
Don't be a People Pleaser: Preachers get on us all the time about not being a people pleaser and watching our attitudes if people say the wrong thing to us. It's great when you see it coming, but if they catch you off guard and say something to your face, you might get hurt, get upset, cry or be tempted to tell them off. Be careful with trying to keep the peace by doing all you can to please people. It's easier said than done, but keep in mind if you are doing the following, you might need to stop being a circus performer, get off the stage and stop trying to entertain the crowds:
  • If you find that you're only happy when they're happy, it's time to stop and reassess who you're trying to please. Do your work as unto the Lord meaning God gets the glory - not man.
  • If you are happy until someone chastizes you, so what. It's not about them. That doesn't mean you need to get arrogant or cocky. Your future isn't determined by their mood swings. If anything, if you can master keeping your peace and step over their mood swings and bipolar tendencies, you might be get better at managing your own - that's right, you've got issues, too.
  • If  you struggle with seeking out people to help so you can feel fulfilled, stop. Let God bring people to you if He wants you to assist. Don't go out of your way to promote yourself by helping others. That's a subtle form of false pride and it can be very deceptive. You have good motives, but you're also enjoying the elation of people praising you. That's similar to what Lucifer was doing. While you might think it's about God. When people praise you, it makes you feel good - wrong! You're not in this faith fight or this walk with God so you can feel good. It's about being a servant and servitude can be hard, difficult and painful. Again, your work as unto the Lord - and only to Him.

Keep these pointers in mind the next time someone says your best ain't good enough. You don't even need to give them a response or a rebuttal, because you probably have a few choice words and rhetoric you can come back to them with. That's flesh, so rebuke it, keep your mouth shut and keep your peace. It doesn't matter what they say, think or feel. What matters is that you stay focused on the visions, goals and dreams God has for you! 

"For I know the plans I have for you," thus saith the Lord (not people), "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11