The One Thing Holding You Back From Being Used By God

"If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Galatians 1:10

To serve God, you can't be a people-pleaser.  Stop fearing people.  "The fear of mankind is a snare (Pr 29:25)."  "Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell (Mt 10:28)."  Stop trying to impress people.  Stop working for the applause of people.  Stop caring what people think and say about you.  Stop trying to be cool, popular, liked, accepted.  Just do God's work, and leave the consequences up to Him.  

To serve God, you must be willing to be hated, mocked, rejected, and persecuted.  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first (Jn 15:18).  You must be willing to look like a fool for Jesus.  "We are fools for Christ (1 Cor 4:10)."  You do deserve respect, and courtesy, and consideration; but if you desire it, seek it, and demand it, you cannot serve Christ.  In this life we must seek God's glory, not our own.

This mentality requires a daily dose of self-denial.  "If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me (Lk 9:23)."  You must destroy your ego and die daily.  "I die daily (1 Cor 15:31, KJV)."

Jesus wants to use you for His glory.  He has work for you to do.  But you must mortify your desire to please people.  "Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit (Jn 12:24)."

Go out and serve the Lord today, and don't be distracted or discouraged by the opinion of man.