Sometimes I care way to much about what other people think!  I’m not saying that we shouldn’t care about what other people think, it’s just that sometimes I let what others think influence me in a way that keeps me from doing I was created to do and keeps me from being who I was created to be!

My being overly concerned about what others think actually gets in the way of my living the productive and satisfying life that I was created for!  When I actually take the time to think about it, I find that this attitude can be traced back all the way to my childhood.

A few weeks ago, a friend was going through a tough time thinking about what she was going to do in sharing with a group of people.  She was starting to stress over the details.  I was looking to encourage my friend and the Spirit shared some advice for me to share with her.  This was the advice:  “You only need to be concerned with the Audience of One!”  Don’t think about or worry about all of the others, what they will think or what they will say!

It’s not easy, but it is true!  There is only ONE that we need to be concerned about, and if we live a life that is pleasing to Him, then that is really the only thing that matters!  I can tell you from personal experience, when I am living my life to please Him, some will like it and some will not, but that is not my concern, because there is really nothing that I can do about that!  Any effort on my part will mess up my being pleasing to Him and just drive me crazy!

I don’t know if you ever have to deal with this kind of challenge or not, but if you do, I encourage you to remember that you have an “Audience Of One” and that is all that really matters!

We say we believe in God.  We say the Bible is God’s Word.  We say this changes our lives.  What a lot of people really mean is:  I hope there is a God.  Some of the Bible could be His Word.  I would like for my life to be better!

If we really believe that God is real, that He has spoken to us through our Bibles and that our lives can change both now and for eternity, then that has to mean a life lived differently every moment of every day.

I am not talking about being a “Holy Roller”!  I simply saying:  If we really believe what we say we believe, then what matters to God will matter to us!  When reading the Bible, it does not take you very long to start figuring out what God cares and is concerned about.

Take for an example just a small part of the prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17:20-23   “20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  Jesus is praying for people who believe and He is praying for UNITY – that they be ONE, because when we allow God to bring us together, it brings great glory to Him and blessings to all!

Jesus would not have prayed for UNITY if it was not very important!  It would not be in our Bibles, if it did not matter!  Jesus prayed it and the Holy Spirit put it into print, because this is the goal of our lives here on this earth!

If we really believe, we will stop playing the games that we tend to love to pray and come together to accomplish something supernatural and glorious for our God and King!  Do you really believe?  Prove it!

Some of you may be in need of a little extra supernatural power flowing into and through your lives today.  As I spent a little time with God this morning, the Holy Spirit gave me these words to assist us in claiming the victory that God has secured for us.  Read them with the faith that God has given and claim what is rightfully yours, not because you deserve it, but because our gracious God chooses to give it to you!

Being a Christian means something and I will not allow the Devil to cause me to forget what it means.  I am tempted to give into the fears of the flesh, but as a Christian I am not bound to the flesh, but set free by the Spirit to live in the life, power and freedom of the Spirit.  I claim today based on the promises of God the victory that He secured for me and make my choice to live for His glory!

His holy Word tells me:  “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7  I kick fear off of the road I am traveling and choose power, love and a sound mind as my traveling companions.

I live not just with any power flowing into and through my life.  I live with the power of the Most High God!  My life has meaning and purpose because I am loved by Him and I am enabled by that love to love Him and others!  I am confident and sure that my God will keep His promise to not leave me or forsake me and I love Him all the more for it!  My mind is sound, my faith is sure and my glory is His!

To God be the glory for the great things He has done, is doing and will do!