Tag Archives: acceptance

Faith, Write 31 Days Challenge 2021

31 Days Of Bible Affirmations – Day 7 – I Am Accepted

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31 Days of Bible Affirmations - Day 7 - I am accepted
31 Days of Bible Affirmations – Day 7 – I Am Accepted
I am Accepted 
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:6

A child longs to feel accepted by those around them, especially by family and close friends. Children crave their parents attention to know they are doing well. When a child lacks the security they need, they carry the fear of rejection later on in life.

When we carry this fear of not being accepted as adults we start to look for it in other places. We still need that reassurance as adults that we are fully accepted, just as ourselves.

Accepted no matter what we have been through in our past.
Accepted even when our lives are in a mess.

I forget sometimes that I don’t need to turn to anyone else when I feel rejected. I am accepted by the One who matters. God. He is the one that can fill the void when I feel unworthy. He loves and accepts us just as we are.

Something to think about…

Why not have a go at personalising Ephesians 1:6 and re-write in your own words what you feel God is saying to you. You could also use my version and change to your own name.

Lynne, I have abounding grace. So much that I freely give it to you. Why? Because I love you and I accept you. No questions asked.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on today’s Bible affirmation then why not catch up on my other thoughts for previous days.

Faith, God’s Love, Write 31 Days Challenge 2019

Day 20 in God’s Love – The Woman at the Well

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One of my favourite stories in the Bible is the Samaritan woman at the well. I love how Jesus meets her there right where she is. He sees her with all the shame she is carrying and just loves her for who she is. It doesn’t matter what she has been through. He still loves her.

I often imagine the woman at the well is me. The one carrying all the shame. Jesus loving me just for who I am, no matter what I have been through. This is what I would imagine…

The Woman at the Well

It was the heat of the day. No-one is usually here at this time. It’s the only time when I feel safe to come out. I looked around just to make sure no-one else was about. But you were there. 

You sat by Jacobs Well looking tired. Your feet were dusty and I could see the sweat on your brow. 

I didn’t know what to do. 

I contemplated on whether to come back another day, but I needed water. My jar was empty and I was thirsty. I am always thirsty. 

For water. 

Thirsty for love. 

For life. 

Hesitantly, I made my way to the well, constantly looking around to make sure no-one else was watching. As I approached the well I kept my head down so you couldn’t see my face. 

I didn’t want you to look me in the eyes. Looking into someone’s eyes can reveal a whole story about themselves and I was too ashamed for you to see mine. 

If only you knew the pain I had to bare. The shame I had to carry.

“Will you give me a drink?” You asked. I sharply looked up. You spoke to me. 

Me.

A Samaritan woman. Surely you were speaking to someone else, but no-one else was around. Aren’t you ashamed to be speaking to me?

You could see the shock on my face. I was scared. No one ever speaks to me unless it was to show me how displeasing I was to them. I am so use to being rejected. No-one values me anymore.

But there was something about you that was different. You weren’t like the other Jews. You were gentle and kind and your eyes showed love towards me. A different kind of love to what I am use to. I have never seen this love before.

You then spoke to me with such tenderness in your voice and told me about a gift God has for me.

Living water.

Did you realise how ridiculous this sounded? Living water? Who can offer living water unless they were the Son of God? Surely not I thought. You had no bucket from which you could retrieve this water so I didn’t know if I could take you seriously.

I questioned how you could do this. I didn’t believe you, but then you said something which made my heart skip a beat.

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Oh how I wanted this water. I wanted to be satisfied. Revitalised. Clean. Free. I needed this water so much. More than you would ever know. If only you knew the real me. Maybe you wouldn’t be giving away this “living water” so freely.

What you asked me next though made my heart sink. You wanted to see my husband. I felt so ashamed. You must have seen the awkwardness I had written all over my face.

I said I had no husband. I wasn’t lying. It’s just that I didn’t want you to judge me. There’s this man that lives with me, but we’re not married.

You said you knew. How? Did you speak to someone before you saw me? I know they all talk about me behind my back. That wasn’t all you knew either.

“You don’t have a husband” you exclaimed, “for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

I could feel my face going red, and it wasn’t with the midday sun. There was only one way you would have known this. You must have been a prophet. What you revealed to me next just blew my mind.

You are the Messiah.

You are the chosen one and you spoke to me. Me, a broken, shame-filled, unclean woman. Do you have any idea how that made me feel? For once in my life I no longer felt rejected. You released the shame I had carried inside me every day of my life. I felt so dirty, but you washed me clean with your love.

I felt free! For so many years I was an outcast and felt alone. You changed this and accepted me for who I was. I didn’t have to change myself either to be welcomed by you. You loved with open arms.

I couldn’t keep this feeling inside me, so I ran as fast as I could back to the village. I no longer felt the need to hide from anyone anymore. Everyone had to hear what you told me. And they listened. For the first time in my life people listened to me.

Because of you, I was no longer rejected by my people. Because of you, my life has been turned around. I have been set free from everything that kept me in chains. You have provided me with a hope and a future. I will be forever in your debt.

Thank you!

Because of you, I was no longer rejected by my people. Because of you, my life has been turned around. I have been set free from everything that kept me in chains. You have provided me with a hope and a future. I will be forever in… Share on X

Something to think about…

Can you imagine yourself being the woman at the well? Is there something in your life which you feel has tainted you? Jesus can provide you with a way of being released. You no longer need to feel shame for what you have been through. He loves you for who you are, just as you are.

Prayer

Lord, thank you so much that you meet us where we are in our circumstances. Nothing in the world will deter you from loving us. Thank you for accepting who we are. Help us to lift our eyes to you so we can see how much you love us. Amen.

Faith, God’s Love, Write 31 Days Challenge 2019

Day 6 in God’s Love – Processing God’s Love So Far

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The last 5 days have been a little intense in what I have written. I’m covering a topic which is much needed, but has left me feeling drained a little, which is why I am a day behind as well. So, I’m processing God’s love so far in what I have learnt.

The enemy loves to attack when you are making progress in something you are doing for God – remember that when you feel under fire!

The enemy loves to attack when you are making progress in something you are doing for God – remember that when you feel under fire! Share on X

I felt led to do something a little different today. I have written a poem which sums up some of what I have written over the last couple of days. It’s a result of what’s going around in my head.

I would love to know what you think or if this resonates with you.

And Yet, You Still Love Me

It doesn’t matter how broken I feel

Or that I am shattered beyond repair.

The scars that are hidden deep inside

Will always remain a pain to bear.

And yet, you still love me.

It doesn’t matter how dirty I feel,

Or the fact my past is marred and unclean.

The stain that has remained deep inside

Will always remain a mark unseen.

And yet, you love me still. 

It doesn’t matter how worthless I feel,

Or how much people reject what they hear.

The shame that lingers over my head,

Will always remain a scar to fear.

And yet, me you still love.

It doesn’t matter if I was abused,

Or at times I’m impossible to love.

The guilt that haunts the rest of my life,

Will always remain a wound to speak of. 

And Yet, You Still Love Me

Faith, Five Minute Friday, Write 31 Days Challenge 2018

Day 6 – Longing to Belong?

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When I was about 16 I decided to put my church to “the test”. I was at the age where I wanted something different. I was young and wanted to be known and used in some way with my faith. I felt a lot of people looked down on me because of my age and who I was.

It’s the age that is kind of make or break with a lot of teenagers. You were either looked upon for not doing enough, but then not given the chance to do anything. I felt alone and isolated and I wanted to be my own person and not in the shadow of my parents.

I just wanted to belong.

I decided to stand to one side one Sunday…out of the way…inconspicuous. I wanted to see how many people would take notice of me. Very few did. In fact, not one person came up and welcomed me. It was probably because I was the daughter of the person behind the pulpit. Welcome my parents and that includes the whole family.

I decided from that day to move to another church. A place where I could be accepted for myself. A place to belong. Sure enough, I was welcomed with open arms and I, along with others of my age, were given opportunities to shine.

It shouldn’t really matter who we are and where we go. Whether we are young or old, black or white, male or female. We are all one in Jesus Christ. We all belong.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 8:28

You are reading day 6 of the Write 31 Days Challenge in conjunction with The Five Minute Friday Community. Today’s word prompt is ‘belong’.