Whole Magazine: When You Want to Be Accepted

I don’t think I’m the only one who has been guilty of people-pleasing.

If we’ll admit it, we all want to be accepted by others.

We want to be well-liked and approved.

Time and time again, we hear stories about the person who pursues a certain career only for their parents, or the one who can never say “no” out of fear that they will be rejected. It is so easy to fall into the trap of committing to things we wish we had not, doing things out of obligation rather than a heart that is secure in God’s love

God has been teaching me the importance of placing more weight on His Word than any other word that may be spoken to me. He is showing me how to focus on Him rather than caring about what other people may think.

I am accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)

I am highly favored by God. (Luke 1:28)

I am holy, chosen, and blameless in God’s sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

I am chosen, marked by God’s love, the delight of His life. (Matthew 3:17)

We really need to let these truths marinate inside of our hearts. It is so vital that we speak them over ourselves daily and truly believe the magnitude of their meaning. It builds a firm foundation of God’s love in our souls.

It’s not because of anything you have done to earn God’s acceptance, but a sheer gift of His tender love and grace towards you through Christ. Christ’s blood makes all the difference. When God sees you, He sees His Son’s precious blood covering you, not your works.

As Christians it’s easy to get into the mindset that we are doing things for God when in actuality our motives may not always be pure. We want others to like us, to accept us. We think that God will approve of us more.

Whatever the situation may be, we have to ask ourselves if we are saying “yes” to earn someone else’s approval? Are we saying “yes” because we believe that God will love or accept us more? Or are we saying “yes” for the right reasons - out of a pure heart that is established in God’s love for us and because we want to give back to Him, no strings attached?

There is no condemnation in Christ, ladies. Of course God honors when we serve Him with all diligence and out of a deep love for Him, but we must examine our motives.

All our decisions should be bathed in prayer and divinely inspired, not made on a whim or simply to please someone else. Doing things for people out of obligation will only leave you bitter and joyless in the end. You will just be going through the motions rather than out of a heart that is aflame with love.

I highly encourage you to listen to Israel Houghton’s song, “I Receive” and let the words minister to you. Get the words deep down inside your heart.

Let God replace your need to please others with His unconditional love and acceptance for you.

You don’t have to worry about pleasing people.

God already accepts you precious Daughter of the King.

I Receive – Israel Houghton

Accepted, highly favored of the Lord

Forgiven by Your love I am transformed

It's not what I'll do but what You've done for me

And by Your grace oh God I stand with my head held high