St. Teresa of Avila said: “God deliver us from people who wish to serve Him yet who are mindful of their own honor.” What does that mean? When we want to be accepted because it feels good, we are caught in the trap of self-centeredness. The focus is not God but ourselves.  St. Teresa called it the temptation of “vainglory” (vanity) While doing God's will, we expect others to praise us for it. That is a “poison” and is “fatal to perfection.” It destroys the love and holiness within us. It is this subtle approach of the Devil that we have to be alert to and reject.