When you’re in the newspaper business, you find yourself trying to please everyone.

While we try to work very hard to bring our readers a great product every week, it is impossible to be at all places at all times.

I recently found a prayer that I want to share with you that pertains to the topic of pleasing people. It just may apply to you in your walk.

Lord, help me not to live my life as a people pleaser. Let me have the confidence in myself and in you so I won’t have to strive for the approval of others. Grant me the confidence to trust my own heart and instincts.

Let my desire and goal be to live my life in such a way that honors you. I choose to conduct my life with integrity and purpose based on the principles of your Word, not on the opinions of others.

Help me to be open to the advice and council of others but strong enough to follow my own heart and convictions. Help me not to let the criticism or insults of others offend me or hurt my feelings. Help me to be more sensitive to your guidance and direction than the voices of others. I desire your approval more than the approval of others. Amen.

This, my friends, is how it should be – positive, not negative.

1-2-3 break.