Study guide on pleasing God and not people

📖 Bible Study Guide: Overcoming People-Pleasing & Living for God

🔹 Step 1: Recognize the Problem

❓ Ask yourself:

  • Do I care too much about what others think?
  • Have I ever compromised my values to fit in?
  • Do I feel anxious or guilty when I say no?

📖 Key Verse: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

💡 Reflection: Write down one area where you struggle with people-pleasing.

🔹 Step 2: Fear God, Not Man

📖 Key Verses:

  • Matthew 10:28 – “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
  • Acts 5:29 – “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

✅ Challenge: Write a prayer asking God to help you fear Him more than people's opinions.

🔹 Step 3: Find Your Identity in Christ

📖 Who You Are in Christ:

  • You are chosen (Ephesians 1:4)
  • You are loved (Romans 8:38-39)
  • You are accepted (Romans 15:7)
  • You are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

✅ Challenge: Memorize Colossians 3:23 – “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

🔹 Step 4: Set Boundaries & Obey God First

📖 Galatians 1:10 – “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

🛠 Practical Steps:

  • Say no when necessary, without guilt.
  • Spend more time in God’s Word than on social media.
  • Seek God’s approval before making decisions.

✅ Challenge: Identify one unhealthy expectation from others and commit to letting it go.

🔹 Final Encouragement

🎯 Goal: Live to please God, not people. His approval is all that matters.
🔥 Focus on eternity—God’s opinion lasts forever, but human opinions fade.
🙏 Pray daily for boldness, wisdom, and peace in following Christ alone.

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🙏 Prayer for Overcoming People-Pleasing 🙏

Heavenly Father,
I come before You, recognizing that I have often sought the approval of others instead of seeking Your will. Lord, forgive me for the times I have prioritized human opinions over Your truth. You are my Creator, my Judge, and the only One whose approval truly matters.

Help me to trust in You completely and find my identity in Christ, not in what others think of me. Strengthen my heart so that I can boldly stand for what is right, even when it is difficult. Remove the fear of rejection, and replace it with the confidence of knowing I am loved, chosen, and accepted by You.

Teach me to set healthy boundaries, to say no when necessary, and to follow Your Word even when it’s unpopular. Fill me with the courage of Peter and Paul, who obeyed You rather than men. Let my life be an offering to You alone.

Holy Spirit, renew my mind daily with the truth of Scripture so that I am not conformed to the pressures of this world but transformed to walk in Your perfect will. May I live for the words “Well done, good and faithful servant” instead of temporary human praise.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray, Amen. 🙏

About Bible Bytes

At Bible Bytes, I explore the Word of God, breaking down key scriptures, messages, and biblical concepts to deepen my understanding—and hopefully help others along the way. While I write many of these reflections myself, I also make use of AI to assist with summarising, explaining, and organising certain passages and themes.

AI is simply a tool to support my study, but my faith and personal interpretation remain at the heart of everything I share. My goal is to make biblical principles more accessible, thought-provoking, and relevant to everyday life. I encourage you to engage with the content, reflect on the Word for yourself, and grow in your own faith journey.

Blessings,
Nicus

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