Pleasing God vs. People

[S] Acts 24:23 --
27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.

[O] Felix, under the pressure of trying to favor the Jews imprisoned him and then left him in there fully knowing Paul did not deserve to be in there.  There is a picture of someone trying to please others resulting in decisions to persecute the innocent (and in this case godly) people.  I get wrapped up in other people's opinions that I paralyze myself from making the right decisions or at least the ones from the bottom of my heart.  But then, it was God's purpose and will for Paul's being left in prison which leads me to two takeaways: 1) When doing God's ministry, don't try to please other people but God; 2) God is bigger than any bad decisions I make to bring forth His plans.

[A] God has been working in my heart on the topic of trying to please others a little too much which may hinder God's timing and this passage was a good re-enforcement for that.

[P] Dear Jesus, thank You for working in my heart always to be more aligned with Your purpose and plan for and through my life.  May my heart be like the iron being hardened and sharpened as I go through the trainings You're putting me through.  In Your name.  Amen.