Someone told me a phrase that has stuck with me, that is true, and that can change our relationships with others, how we handle criticism, so many different things.  This statement was this.

What someone else thinks of you is none of your business.  Think about that.  What they think of you is their business.  Not yours.  Don’t worry about it.  Don’t focus on it.  You can’t control it, you can only control you.  Don’t spend your precious energy focusing on things such as that.  Don’t focus on things that you can’t control.  Focus on what you can.  Listen to what Paul says today in Romans 12: 17-19:

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Paul says, don’t repay evil for evil.  Do good.  Be nice. And, to me, the key, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Notice Paul didn’t say live in peace with everyone.  He said as much as it depends on you.  You can’t control them.  Let me say that again.  You can’t control them.  You can’t control them.

You can only control you.  So, as much as you can, live in peace with others.

Don’t worry about what they think of you.  Don’t worry about what they say.  Don’t worry about what they do.  Worry about you.  You can’t control hem.  But, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can live a life of self-control.

Today, you can be nice in the face of anger.  You can be grace in the face of conflicYou can be mercy in the face of judgment.  You can be a life-changer, through the grace of God within you.

What someone else thinks of you is none of your business.  You be a person of grace and peace.  And let God take care of it from there.

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