You were created to please God and serve people, not the other way around. Don’t let the desire to please people take you off course. Instead, focus on living a life that honors God, and you’ll find the freedom to serve others with true love and purpose.
[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock.
[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly
[00:00:49] [SPEAKER_00]: dividing the Word of Truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.
[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00]: You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast.
[00:01:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And now here's Elgin.
[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
[00:01:10] [SPEAKER_02]: to another episode of Words of Inspiration where we look to God's Word for wisdom and guidance
[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_02]: on how to live a life that honors Him and His Word.
[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_02]: And today I have the pleasure of sharing the microphone with Consuela Shaw.
[00:01:28] [SPEAKER_02]: And we have a very interesting topic.
[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_02]: We were created to please God and serve people, not serve God and please people.
[00:01:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Our inspiration comes from Galatians 1 verse 10 and reading from the New International Version it reads,
[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God?
[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Or am I trying to please people?
[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_02]: If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_02]: The primary thought for our discussion today is how we can live our best lives and serve God's purpose by being clear on what we were called to Earth for.
[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_02]: It's easy to get caught up in trying to please people, whether it's at work or your family or your social circles.
[00:02:32] [SPEAKER_02]: We want acceptance and validation and approval, but Galatians 1 and 10 makes it clear that if our priority is pleasing people, we cannot truly be servants of Christ.
[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_02]: This is because people pleasing often leads us away from God's will and into compromises that don't align with our calling.
[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_02]: When we focus on people pleasing, we start to lose sight of what matters most, honoring God.
[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_02]: Living for others approval can lead us into stress, anxiety, and even disobedience to God.
[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_02]: It's a trap that keeps us from fully walking in the purpose God has for our lives.
[00:03:18] [SPEAKER_02]: But what happens when we flip that perspective?
[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_02]: When we aim to please God first and foremost, everything else falls into place.
[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_02]: We find peace, purpose, and the freedom to live authentically.
[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Matthew 6 and 33 tells us, but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_03]: So much to say in that space.
[00:03:53] [SPEAKER_03]: It is just amazing how when we hear this, is it that I'm here to please God?
[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_03]: And understanding that as we have grown up, as we were born into our families, culture, tradition, trainings and all of the things that society puts on us many a times.
[00:04:16] [SPEAKER_03]: It's as if we were brought into this space and we learn to perform.
[00:04:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Wow.
[00:04:23] [SPEAKER_03]: We learn to conform to what is it that our family says that we are supposed to be.
[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_03]: We start going to school and we look at our family and many a times whatever mom or dad was.
[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_03]: If mom is in the professional field and dad is in a professional field, many a times we are our our shape to say that I have to please mom and dad.
[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_03]: Think about as a kid when we're going to school.
[00:04:53] [SPEAKER_03]: Most of the time when we're going to school, we don't think about going to school for ourselves.
[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_03]: We're thinking about going to school for our parents.
[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_03]: And so even as a child, we are being shaped and to please people.
[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_03]: We're being trained to please people.
[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Including your teachers.
[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_03]: Think about the teachers.
[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_03]: And even when we go to church because we're taught regardless of what you think or how you feel about something,
[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_03]: whether you feel that it's the right thing, the wrong thing, good thing, bad thing, what are we taught to do?
[00:05:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Because there are elders.
[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_03]: We will conform to pleasing people.
[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_03]: Most of the time if you took a survey of people who are in college and for instance if their dad is an attorney, mom is a registered nurse.
[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_03]: And so most of the kids are saying, well I have to be one or the other.
[00:05:55] [SPEAKER_03]: What are parents doing?
[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_03]: They are training them.
[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_03]: You have to be one of the one or the other.
[00:06:01] [SPEAKER_03]: Most kids when they're in college, they'll tell you, I don't want to be either one of those.
[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_03]: But to please my parents, I find myself in law school that I don't want to be in.
[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_03]: And how many times have we probably heard the story of the child that's up in college, parents are paying for college and they're not attending?
[00:06:21] [SPEAKER_03]: An example of what we're talking about here.
[00:06:25] [SPEAKER_03]: Because we are taught to please people.
[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_03]: But when we really come into the fullness of God and we come into that space where we're now saying this now is not about what everyone else wants from me.
[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_03]: I really have to really get in that space, into that secret space right?
[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_03]: And begin to cry out to him and call on his name and say, what is it that God needs from me?
[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_03]: Because as we go through life and we're people pleasing, one, we find ourselves disappointed a lot of times.
[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_03]: Number two, we find ourselves heartbroken a lot of times.
[00:07:04] [SPEAKER_03]: We find ourselves in spaces and places and with people that don't even align with where is God trying to take me?
[00:07:13] [SPEAKER_03]: And we go through that time where it seems as if God is stripping everyone away.
[00:07:18] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, these were people that has nothing to do with your purpose.
[00:07:23] [SPEAKER_03]: And so now that you're walking with him, he's simply just putting you back on your course.
[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_03]: He's putting us back on track.
[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_03]: And so where in the natural it seems as if, man, everybody is walking away or, man, I don't have the things I used to have.
[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, what he's doing is saying that's because I didn't give it to you.
[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, well, right?
[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_02]: And it goes back to a comment you made when you and I were speaking earlier about, I just want to get back to normal.
[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_02]: And so, so what is that?
[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_02]: Right?
[00:08:00] [SPEAKER_02]: And when you consider God's purpose for your life, is there really a normal because since we don't know where this path actually leads,
[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_02]: then it's give us this day our daily bread.
[00:08:16] [SPEAKER_02]: So what we may consider normal, he considered yesterday.
[00:08:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.
[00:08:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Wow.
[00:08:22] [SPEAKER_02]: And it's not where you're going.
[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[00:08:24] [SPEAKER_03]: And I think about even what you're saying that I think about when we talk about God, where, where am I?
[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_03]: Where is this going?
[00:08:36] [SPEAKER_03]: Well, all I need you to do is know that when you please me.
[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_03]: I know where you're going, Abraham.
[00:08:46] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:08:46] [SPEAKER_03]: I know where you're going.
[00:08:47] [SPEAKER_03]: I just need you to trust me that there are going to be people that's going to come in and try to tell you, man, you better not do that.
[00:08:56] [SPEAKER_03]: That don't sound right.
[00:08:58] [SPEAKER_03]: Man, you, you know, and then we have to make that decision.
[00:09:03] [SPEAKER_03]: I think you should go here or I think you should just, well, it's good that they think they have good intentions, but we serve an intentional God.
[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_03]: And God is saying, if you just seek me first, allow me to guide you.
[00:09:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Take some deep breaths and calm down.
[00:09:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:09:22] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_03]: I know the plans that I have for you and the plans are to do you good and no harm to come out with an expected end.
[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:09:35] [SPEAKER_03]: That will work in your favor.
[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_03]: So if you focus on what is it that I need you to do to please me, then all of that other stuff, it's going to work out.
[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_03]: And just to be encouraged in that to know that, well, you know, we feel that but my family says, but all of my friends are, they all own this or they, but maybe the course that he has you on is going to take you in a whole
[00:10:06] [SPEAKER_03]: another place.
[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_02]: That's right.
[00:10:08] [SPEAKER_03]: That you don't even know of.
[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_02]: And it also speaks to the day one of the dangers of pleasing people is that not everybody who's with you is for you.
[00:10:20] [SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
[00:10:20] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_02]: And so they may want to say, oh, they may say to you that, you know, I only want the best for you as long as that best don't exceed my best.
[00:10:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.
[00:10:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.
[00:10:31] [SPEAKER_02]: When they see you being elevated because you are walking in God's purpose, then there's always comments.
[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, she always this and she never have time for that anymore because she's doing all of this.
[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And so we have to be careful that when we are our living our lives, you know, in Colossians three and 23, it reminds us that whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
[00:11:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Our work, our relationships, our daily actions should all be done with the intentions of pleasing God, not impressing people.
[00:11:11] [SPEAKER_02]: When we live in with this mindset, it shifts our priorities and helps us to focus on what truly matters.
[00:11:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Which is why are you here?
[00:11:22] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, oh.
[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
[00:11:25] [SPEAKER_03]: And in that sense, I feel that it makes us also hypersensitive, if you will, to the spirit of God.
[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_03]: Because the spirit of God will quicken you.
[00:11:37] [SPEAKER_03]: And when you find yourself in that space of the spirit of God will say, no, don't do that.
[00:11:47] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
[00:11:48] [SPEAKER_03]: Or trust me, I have you.
[00:11:50] [SPEAKER_03]: And will, will most of the time until we mature will override that because I'm going to go ahead and go with them anyway.
[00:12:01] [SPEAKER_03]: When you get there, you're so uncomfortable in the space because you don't belong and he tried to tell you don't go.
[00:12:08] [SPEAKER_03]: So now, because you didn't listen to the first voice, right?
[00:12:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Because we were pleasing God.
[00:12:14] [SPEAKER_03]: He'll have you sitting in a place.
[00:12:16] [SPEAKER_03]: You're so uncomfortable and you still hear in that voice, right?
[00:12:21] [SPEAKER_03]: That's telling you it's okay.
[00:12:22] [SPEAKER_03]: Get up and leave.
[00:12:23] [SPEAKER_03]: I told you not to come here.
[00:12:26] [SPEAKER_03]: Now you got to wait for them to take you back home.
[00:12:28] [SPEAKER_03]: And, and but again, I think it comes with that maturity as well and allowing ourselves to be okay with if it doesn't please him.
[00:12:39] [SPEAKER_03]: Then I don't want to find myself doing it.
[00:12:41] [SPEAKER_02]: That's right.
[00:12:41] [SPEAKER_02]: And, and for those of you who want to believe that this doesn't apply to you.
[00:12:47] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll just give you a simple phrase that I'm sure you've used something told me not to do it.
[00:12:55] [SPEAKER_02]: And that was the urgent of the Holy Spirit.
[00:12:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.
[00:13:00] [SPEAKER_02]: He was trying to tell you and better yet, when you have that same scenario like you say it, well, you now have to wait for them to take you from that scenario.
[00:13:11] [SPEAKER_02]: They want to stay all day.
[00:13:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.
[00:13:14] [SPEAKER_02]: We sit there an hour and a half later in the place that you didn't want to be.
[00:13:17] [SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.
[00:13:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Right.
[00:13:19] [SPEAKER_02]: And, and, and you're bearing it.
[00:13:20] [SPEAKER_02]: So, so pleasing God means living according to his word and following the examples of Jesus.
[00:13:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Jesus didn't come to earth to gain popularity or approval.
[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_02]: He came to serve, to love and to fill, fulfill God's plan.
[00:13:37] [SPEAKER_02]: That's the model we are to, we are called to follow.
[00:13:43] [SPEAKER_02]: While our focus should be on pleasing God, we're also called to serve others.
[00:13:48] [SPEAKER_02]: But the key here is how we serve others.
[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_02]: We're not called to serve people in a way that seeks their approval or validation.
[00:13:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Instead, we're called to serve people out of love and obedience to God.
[00:14:02] [SPEAKER_02]: In Matthew 2028, again reading from the NIV, Jesus says,
[00:14:09] [SPEAKER_02]: The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
[00:14:17] [SPEAKER_02]: Jesus modeled servant leadership showing us that true greatness comes from serving others.
[00:14:24] [SPEAKER_02]: But he didn't serve to gain favor with people.
[00:14:28] [SPEAKER_02]: He served to fulfill God's promise.
[00:14:31] [SPEAKER_02]: When we serve the, when we serve with the right heart,
[00:14:35] [SPEAKER_02]: our actions aren't motivated by what we can gain from others,
[00:14:39] [SPEAKER_02]: but by our desire to honor God,
[00:14:42] [SPEAKER_02]: whether it's helping a neighbor, volunteering at church,
[00:14:46] [SPEAKER_02]: or offering support to a friend.
[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_02]: Our act of service should flow from our love of God and a desire to reflect his character.
[00:14:59] [SPEAKER_03]: What comes to mind when I hear you speaking in this and when we're talking about,
[00:15:04] [SPEAKER_03]: you know, the Son of Man didn't come to be served.
[00:15:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Even in his serving, he said,
[00:15:11] [SPEAKER_03]: I came to do the work of my father.
[00:15:14] [SPEAKER_03]: That's right.
[00:15:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:15:15] [SPEAKER_03]: And so if we allow ourselves to think in that mindset,
[00:15:20] [SPEAKER_03]: why am I doing what I'm doing?
[00:15:22] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm doing it to serve my father.
[00:15:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:15:26] [SPEAKER_03]: Because I got to do the work now while I have time,
[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_03]: because when night come,
[00:15:32] [SPEAKER_03]: no man can work.
[00:15:34] [SPEAKER_03]: And I need to take advantage of every moment.
[00:15:38] [SPEAKER_03]: If it's nothing but you stop and just encourage someone,
[00:15:43] [SPEAKER_03]: give you an example yesterday, just yesterday,
[00:15:46] [SPEAKER_03]: come to think of it in the mall, minding my business.
[00:15:50] [SPEAKER_03]: And this one lady, you know,
[00:15:52] [SPEAKER_03]: looked and then she stepped back and looked at me again.
[00:15:55] [SPEAKER_03]: And I didn't know who she was.
[00:15:58] [SPEAKER_03]: And then she said, it looks like I know you.
[00:16:01] [SPEAKER_03]: Don't know her.
[00:16:02] [SPEAKER_03]: She realized she didn't know me.
[00:16:05] [SPEAKER_03]: And she began to talk to me and right there in that moment,
[00:16:09] [SPEAKER_03]: divine connection, I just prayed for her.
[00:16:13] [SPEAKER_03]: Because she was saying all of the different things that,
[00:16:16] [SPEAKER_03]: you know, she was going through and she had to readjust in her life
[00:16:19] [SPEAKER_03]: and she had just been through a horrific divorce
[00:16:22] [SPEAKER_03]: and then she had to relocate.
[00:16:24] [SPEAKER_03]: And when one of the things I say,
[00:16:27] [SPEAKER_03]: we can't look at people and make a decision about them.
[00:16:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:16:32] [SPEAKER_03]: Right.
[00:16:32] [SPEAKER_03]: Because you look at her, she looks well to do.
[00:16:36] [SPEAKER_03]: But this is a woman who whatever reason,
[00:16:40] [SPEAKER_03]: as you said earlier, we say, what was that something?
[00:16:42] [SPEAKER_03]: The spirit of God just quickened in her.
[00:16:45] [SPEAKER_03]: And here I am not in a mindset to do, you know,
[00:16:49] [SPEAKER_03]: but at that time and with everything she stated,
[00:16:53] [SPEAKER_03]: it was, you know, can you pray for me?
[00:16:56] [SPEAKER_03]: You know, and we'll leave off.
[00:16:57] [SPEAKER_03]: And my thing was, no, we're going to pray now.
[00:17:01] [SPEAKER_03]: Why?
[00:17:01] [SPEAKER_03]: Because you don't know.
[00:17:03] [SPEAKER_03]: That's right.
[00:17:03] [SPEAKER_03]: And that's the work that we're talking about doing.
[00:17:07] [SPEAKER_03]: That's the work we are purpose for.
[00:17:09] [SPEAKER_03]: And so when I'm here to please God,
[00:17:13] [SPEAKER_03]: God, it doesn't matter.
[00:17:14] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm in this store, but right now this baby,
[00:17:17] [SPEAKER_03]: this young lady is in need.
[00:17:20] [SPEAKER_03]: And this is the work we're here to do and to please God,
[00:17:23] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know what's going to come from that.
[00:17:26] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know what the purpose of that was, but in the moment.
[00:17:30] [SPEAKER_03]: And I feel that this is what Jesus was saying.
[00:17:32] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm not here to put people off or to say, yeah,
[00:17:36] [SPEAKER_03]: let me, I'll pray for you and life gets going.
[00:17:39] [SPEAKER_03]: And we never pray for the person.
[00:17:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
[00:17:41] [SPEAKER_03]: But he's saying this is what I'm here to do.
[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_03]: And when we do that, how much does that remove us from
[00:17:48] [SPEAKER_03]: everything that we're going through?
[00:17:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, without a doubt.
[00:17:51] [SPEAKER_02]: And how often he will use you to bless somebody else and
[00:17:58] [SPEAKER_02]: it in turn, blesses you.
[00:18:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.
[00:18:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Because when you think about all of the people in our
[00:18:04] [SPEAKER_02]: in our world, in our city,
[00:18:06] [SPEAKER_02]: all of the people walking through that mall.
[00:18:08] [SPEAKER_03]: Exactly.
[00:18:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
[00:18:10] [SPEAKER_02]: He zeroed out you.
[00:18:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Why?
[00:18:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Because you have a willing heart and you have a heart to
[00:18:16] [SPEAKER_02]: please him.
[00:18:16] [SPEAKER_02]: And so he's like, okay, great.
[00:18:19] [SPEAKER_02]: So now I can send someone to you because you didn't say,
[00:18:24] [SPEAKER_02]: well, I'm prophetess, Consuelo Shaw.
[00:18:28] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, you can come to my church and we will
[00:18:31] [SPEAKER_02]: pray for you and all this as a willing servant and
[00:18:34] [SPEAKER_02]: understanding that you're here to please God.
[00:18:37] [SPEAKER_02]: You knew that that's the only reason that person
[00:18:40] [SPEAKER_02]: is in front of you.
[00:18:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely.
[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Because you understand that because God's not going to
[00:18:45] [SPEAKER_02]: send.
[00:18:46] [SPEAKER_02]: He said his word doesn't come back to avoid if he
[00:18:48] [SPEAKER_02]: if he told her in her prayers that I will never
[00:18:51] [SPEAKER_02]: leave you nor forsake you, then you were the part
[00:18:55] [SPEAKER_02]: of that delivery system.
[00:18:56] [SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
[00:18:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Of his promise to her and but see if we are
[00:19:01] [SPEAKER_02]: our people pleasing, then we would have taken
[00:19:05] [SPEAKER_02]: that to a totally different direction.
[00:19:07] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:19:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Right.
[00:19:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Instead of understanding that you the need for you
[00:19:11] [SPEAKER_02]: to pray for her was right then.
[00:19:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:19:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Because you wanted to maybe have an audience,
[00:19:15] [SPEAKER_02]: maybe go and stand out in the food court where
[00:19:18] [SPEAKER_02]: everybody can see in your loud.
[00:19:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Why?
[00:19:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So people can hear you.
[00:19:23] [SPEAKER_03]: And we behind racks in the store, you know,
[00:19:25] [SPEAKER_03]: we in between some racks in the store and it
[00:19:28] [SPEAKER_03]: just made it that much more purposeful.
[00:19:30] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
[00:19:31] [SPEAKER_03]: And I just can't imagine.
[00:19:33] [SPEAKER_03]: I just trust that God is going to do something
[00:19:35] [SPEAKER_03]: in her life just from that moment.
[00:19:38] [SPEAKER_03]: And here we're talking about again,
[00:19:41] [SPEAKER_03]: we're here to please God.
[00:19:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Sure.
[00:19:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Sure.
[00:19:44] [SPEAKER_02]: And even from the from the natural side to live
[00:19:48] [SPEAKER_02]: our best lives and serve God's purpose,
[00:19:51] [SPEAKER_02]: we must be clear on why we're called to earth.
[00:19:54] [SPEAKER_02]: We weren't called to chase approvals or mold
[00:19:58] [SPEAKER_02]: our lives around some expectation of someone else.
[00:20:01] [SPEAKER_02]: We were created to please God.
[00:20:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Our creator, our sustainer, our source.
[00:20:07] [SPEAKER_02]: And in pleasing him, we serve people with love,
[00:20:10] [SPEAKER_02]: humility and purpose, which you perfectly exemplified.
[00:20:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Like you said, she didn't know you from Eve,
[00:20:17] [SPEAKER_02]: but her spirit in your spirit touch because the Lord said so.
[00:20:20] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[00:20:21] [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[00:20:21] [SPEAKER_02]: So when we focus on pleasing God,
[00:20:24] [SPEAKER_02]: we find clarity and direction.
[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_02]: We're no longer distracted by the need for human approval.
[00:20:31] [SPEAKER_02]: And we're free from when we're free to pursue the unique calling
[00:20:35] [SPEAKER_02]: that God has placed on our lives.
[00:20:37] [SPEAKER_02]: And here's the beautiful part.
[00:20:40] [SPEAKER_02]: When we please God, we often end up serving people in ways
[00:20:44] [SPEAKER_02]: that make a real impact because we're doing it with the right
[00:20:49] [SPEAKER_02]: heart and the right motives.
[00:20:52] [SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
[00:20:54] [SPEAKER_03]: Wow.
[00:20:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Which is exactly the example from yesterday had no clue,
[00:21:00] [SPEAKER_03]: no intention.
[00:21:01] [SPEAKER_03]: And it always happens when you're not dressed right,
[00:21:05] [SPEAKER_03]: feel like you don't look right for the part, right?
[00:21:07] [SPEAKER_03]: You're trying to hide behind racks and staying out of the obvious places
[00:21:12] [SPEAKER_03]: because again, you running in here to do what you need to do
[00:21:15] [SPEAKER_03]: and then you're running out and then God interrupts.
[00:21:18] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:21:18] [SPEAKER_03]: He intervenes and says, well, yeah,
[00:21:21] [SPEAKER_03]: you might not fill up the park because I don't need them to see you.
[00:21:24] [SPEAKER_03]: I need them to see my glory.
[00:21:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, say that.
[00:21:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Right.
[00:21:27] [SPEAKER_03]: And I need them to know that God still hears them
[00:21:32] [SPEAKER_03]: and he answers their cries and their prayers.
[00:21:35] [SPEAKER_03]: And so here we are, you know, why couldn't it happen
[00:21:38] [SPEAKER_03]: when I was all dressed up and ready?
[00:21:40] [SPEAKER_03]: Right.
[00:21:41] [SPEAKER_03]: But this is the intentionality of God.
[00:21:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:21:46] [SPEAKER_03]: Right.
[00:21:46] [SPEAKER_03]: And so we see that when we are open and willing to allow him
[00:21:52] [SPEAKER_03]: to just use us, which is our purpose,
[00:21:54] [SPEAKER_03]: then we see how he allows us to be in those spaces
[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_03]: and do I find myself worthy and always feel that you're in your best space.
[00:22:04] [SPEAKER_03]: News flash, right?
[00:22:06] [SPEAKER_03]: That's when he uses us.
[00:22:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Of course.
[00:22:09] [SPEAKER_02]: He said his strength is manifesting our weakness.
[00:22:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Exactly.
[00:22:13] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's the days where I don't have enough time.
[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_02]: I got a headache.
[00:22:17] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't feel like hearing it, but he sends them anyway
[00:22:20] [SPEAKER_02]: because he realized that obedience is better than sacrament.
[00:22:24] [SPEAKER_02]: Right.
[00:22:24] [SPEAKER_02]: So when we're obedient to God and we are using every encounter
[00:22:29] [SPEAKER_02]: with anyone as a way to please him,
[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_02]: then what we find is on our reflection, right?
[00:22:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Just like you're sitting here right now, reflecting on it.
[00:22:40] [SPEAKER_02]: You're like, wow, you know, I wonder what she was really going through.
[00:22:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And the fact that she would reach out.
[00:22:46] [SPEAKER_02]: And again, you know, it's a question
[00:22:49] [SPEAKER_02]: of reminding me of Mary and Elizabeth, right?
[00:22:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Right.
[00:22:51] [SPEAKER_02]: That was kind of like the whole scenario that she had.
[00:22:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[00:22:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
[00:22:57] [SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, it never ceases to amaze me how total stranger
[00:23:04] [SPEAKER_03]: but had enough in her and felt that to be comfortable enough
[00:23:10] [SPEAKER_03]: to share details of her life.
[00:23:12] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
[00:23:13] [SPEAKER_03]: People don't do that today.
[00:23:15] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:23:15] [SPEAKER_03]: They don't they're not going to tell you anything about them.
[00:23:18] [SPEAKER_03]: But here we are.
[00:23:19] [SPEAKER_03]: And this is happening and it's amazing how God will do that.
[00:23:24] [SPEAKER_03]: But again, we were created.
[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_03]: For his purpose.
[00:23:29] [SPEAKER_03]: We were created to bring him glory and to be that for other people.
[00:23:35] [SPEAKER_03]: And I think the more we allow ourselves to avail to that,
[00:23:39] [SPEAKER_03]: the more we will see that, yeah, this is good with God.
[00:23:45] [SPEAKER_03]: Right?
[00:23:46] [SPEAKER_03]: I just need to let myself.
[00:23:47] [SPEAKER_02]: And be used by God.
[00:23:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So relations one in 10 reminds us that our goal is not to win the
[00:23:55] [SPEAKER_02]: approval of others, but to live his faithful servants of Christ.
[00:23:59] [SPEAKER_02]: As you go about your day, ask yourself, am I living to please God?
[00:24:05] [SPEAKER_02]: If the answer is yes, then you're on the right path.
[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Brothers and sisters, I thank you for joining me on today.
[00:24:12] [SPEAKER_02]: I thank Miss Consuelo Shaw for joining us.
[00:24:17] [SPEAKER_02]: And if this message has encouraged you to refocus on living for God's
[00:24:22] [SPEAKER_02]: approval and serving others with the right heart,
[00:24:25] [SPEAKER_02]: I encourage you to share it with someone who needs the same reminder.
[00:24:30] [SPEAKER_02]: I thank you again for being with us on today.
[00:24:33] [SPEAKER_02]: I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow.
[00:24:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Until then, God bless.
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[00:24:54] [SPEAKER_00]: earth.
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