Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress

February 23, 2011
Leadership Clip to Evernote
24

"You have nothing to Prove & No one to Impress"   Larry Osborne

I was at a video recording for the Leadership Network recently and heard Larry use this quote while telling the story of when he was young in ministry and feeling pressured and stressed out. These were the words told to him by his mentor.

Listening to his story really resonated with me. It’s so easy in ministry to try and  please others and do things in a way that we feel makes others happy. However, I have found the more I try to please others the further I get from where God is. God has never called us to be "man pleasers", but rather God followers.

So listen, if you are looking at or hearing anything that causes you to be discouraged, stressed or feel insignificant. Stop looking at those things, and listening to those voices. Rest in what God has called you to do. He has called you to Himself, and called you to impact others.

God has never called you to, Impress anyone or prove a point! Rest in God’s approval and His alone, any other approval you seek, drains the life right out of you!

Ever tried to Impress someone, or prove something? How’d that work out for ya?

About artie: I'm the lead Pastor at Cornerstone, a Multi-Ethnic church in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Also the founder of the Comb Network.com, a movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller cities. I direct a gathering of small city leader called "The Sticks."

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  • http://www.derwinlgray.com Derwin L. Gray

    "Rest in what God has called you to do."

    That’s a profound truth that is pregnant with divine potential to transform ministry leaders lives. Thanls for the reminder.

    Derwin

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Thanks Derwin, it sure shook me up. I love its simplicity and deep truth

  • http://twitter.com/CombNetwork/status/40387936889348096/ CombNetwork (@CombNetwork) (@CombNetwork)

    Ever feel like you have to impress someone? http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://www.j4man.wordpress.com Jim F

    Tried to impress and prove things and as you can imagine – did not work out too well at all. Good thoughts Artie.

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Yeah, that’s NEVER turned out well for me. Thanks Jim

  • http://twitter.com/jacook76/status/40409969660526592/ Ja Cook (@jacook76) (@jacook76)

    RT @artiedavis: Ever feel like you have to impress someone? http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://www.jacook.org Ja Cook

    Man, that one has always been a struggle for me. I spent many years in ministry desperate for approval. To me, the worst part about being in that place was that it really chains you down and makes you very unwilling to step out in faith and try something new and potentially life changing because you don’t want to "fail" and "let everyone down".

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Not just your struggle bro, every leaders’ struggle. I think the older you get, the easier it gets.

  • http://twitter.com/artiedavis/status/40433232000327681/ Artie Davis (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis)

    Have you fallen into the "I must impress" trap? http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://www.anidolheart.com Grant Jenkins

    Excellent post, Artie. One of our pastors has been saying this to me the past couple weeks and it is finding its way deep into my heart. So thankful.

  • http://thinkspurlove.blogspot.com/ David Buckham

    Totally screwed this up a few weeks ago and still feeling the sting of that pain almost a month later. Thanks for these words, I probably wouldn’t have listened a month ago, but glad to see this now to add with my retrospect!

    • http://artiedavis.com artie

      Wow, real fresh is painful, thanks for sharing David

  • http://twitter.com/SCRiverChurch/status/40441593878028288/ StCharlesRiverChurch (@SCRiverChurch) (@SCRiverChurch)

    Remember: Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://ow.ly/1s4k0f

  • http://twitter.com/anidolheart/status/40476976577908736/ Grant Jenkins (@anidolheart)

    RT @ArtieDavis Have you fallen into the "I must impress" trap? http://bit.ly/f05dVW // I can’t hear this enough.

  • http://twitter.com/artiedavis/status/40488583538151424/ Artie Davis (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis) (@artiedavis)

    So Freeing! Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://twitter.com/thesticks/status/40538944906989569/ The Sticks Gathering (@thesticks) (@thesticks)

    Is this true? You Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://twitter.com/mddeibert/status/40544401851809792/ Maria Deibert (@mddeibert)

    Great post, and so true."@ArtieDavis: Is this true? You Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://bit.ly/f05dVW"

  • http://twitter.com/nickied/status/40556869533564928/ nickied (@nickied) (@nickied)

    RT @artiedavis: Is this true? You Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://twitter.com/LuvXtravagantly/status/40577944237645824/ J (@LuvXtravagantly)

    RT @artiedavis: Is this true? You Nothing to Prove or Anyone to Impress http://bit.ly/f05dVW

  • http://billgrandi.com bill (cycleguy)

    Gotta admit "the fall was great" and the splat was even greater. Thanks for the encouragement Artie.

  • http://aprilhawk.wordpress.com April

    Yes, I have experienced drain and stress when trying to impress others…I finally came to the realization that I had to do what God wanted me to do. What I do is between God and me. The great reward awaits me in heaven not here on earth with the approval of other people.

  • http://www.endlessimpact.com jasonS

    Yes, I’ve tried and it’s so much bondage. That’s a great concise way to say it. I’m going to remember that. Thanks Artie.

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  • Ed Groover

    Thanks for this, Artie. I really needed to hear this today.