my joy. That was a great day in my life! Your time is too valuable to worry about pleasing everyone else or making them happy. I know people who spend more time worrying about what others think about them than they do focusing on their own dreams and goals. You've got to get free from that.

God said if you will delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart. That means if you'll keep God first place, if you'll honor Him with your life, He'll cause people to want to be good to you. He'll cause you to be at the right place at the right time.

I love what Jesus said in Luke 19:29-30: "Everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life" (NLT). Notice it doesn't say when you get to heaven God will bless you. It says, right here on the earth, if you give up anything for God's sake, He will reward you more than you can even imagine.

When you honor God, live with an abundant mentality, He'll do things you didn't see coming. He won't just meet your needs, but supernatural provision will come. Uncommon, unusual, things you can't explain.

The God of Abundance. Psalm

If you're always thinking thoughts of lack, not enough, and struggle, you're moving toward the wrong things.

The Scripture says, "When you honor God, blessings will chase you down." You don't have to look for the blessings. Keep God first place and the blessings will look for you.

The Creator of the universe is breathing on your life. He is breathing on your health, breathing on your finances, breathing on your marriage. If you will be confident in what God has given you, He can take what looks like little and turn it into much.

It is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." God is longing to be good to you.

How much time and energy are you spending trying to get approval, trying to be well-liked, trying to keep this friend impressed, trying to stay in this coworker's favor? Take the pressure off. I would much rather spend my time pleasing God than trying to please people.

You've probably heard me say that God wants to take us places that we've never dreamed. When you keep Him in first place, are your best each day, and take steps of faith you will see His goodness in new ways.

If you'll learn to release control to God, you'll not only live happier, you'll live longer.