Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Lou Yeboah
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— People ain’t got a Heaven or a Hell to put you in, but God does…. Don’t you be worrying about what people think; you best do what God told you to do! The fact that people can make opinions does not give them the right to dictate someone else’ life. I want you to know that Jesus became so powerful every time people raise opinion about Him. He was always a step ahead of them. Yet He remains whom He was made to be. You must know who you are or what God has made you to be irrespective of human opinion. If you don’t know who you are that is where you will allow the opinion of others to rule and control you.
Listen, “They said I wouldn’t make it, they said I wouldn’t be here today, they said I never amount to anything, but I’m glad to say, that I’m on my way, and I’m going more and more each day. There were many that started out with me, but now, they’ve gone astray, but I’m still holding on to his hand. You see when I was young, I gave God my hand, and I told him to lead the way, though the road has been rough, and the goings been mighty tough, still I ain’t going nowhere, I’m right here to stay. Though I’ve been talked about, and oh I’ve been criticized, I had to wipe many tears from my eyes, but I’m still holding on to his hand. Yes I’m still in God’s holy plan, and I’m bound for the promise land, I will never let go of His hand. I’m still holding on…” [Songwriters: Luther Lee Barnes – I’m Still Holding On lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Memory Lane Music Group – Domestic]
I say to you, stop worrying about what others think and set your mind on Christ. And, do the work God has called you to do, because when this life is over you will have to give an account to God and Him alone. And no excuses will be accepted. You want be able to say, well “they” said….. Forget about it! It’s time to regroup, refocus, and rise above petty people, things, sin, and caring what others think of you. They don’t know your back story, but Christ does. Worrying about what others think is human, but when it’s to a point where you got to choose between pleasing man or pleasing God, you best want to please God….. As Moses said, “If you fully obey the Lord your God… you will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country, the fruit of your womb will be blessed and the crops of your land… If you do not obey the Lord your God… you will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and kneading trough will be cursed…” [Deuteronomy 28]
I know that we all want approval—caring what other people think seems evitable. Through the years it can become a problem for us as it can cripple us emotionally and spiritually. We need to get to the point where we don’t care what no one says, how they feel about us, or live in state of constant fear or agony of what others think. Live out Loud: Live your life as God created you in Christ to live. Determine you will obey God no matter what.
As Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” [Acts 4:19-20]
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians. 3:13-14].
