You can’t give what you don’t have so it follows that loving people will be hard unless you learn to be loved. This month ALOVE explores the theme of acceptance in all its guises.

One of the most powerful forces driving humans is the need to feel accepted both by other humans and, to a large extent, by ourselves. Advertisers spend most of their time elaborating the point that we need this or that product to be accepted by our peers and society. The need for acceptance is the most powerful tool in modern marketing’s arsenal. Without the acceptance that materialism brings we will be miserable … or so we are told.

Apple or H&M?

God sings a very different song over us. Until we let His words shape our characters and not the driving need for the latest gadget from Apple or newest outfit from H&M, we will never be free to truly accept ourselves. And until we accept ourselves in God’s sight then we cannot accept God’s love for us. And unless we accept God’s love for us we cannot love others. Acceptance is a serious business. Starting off with an excerpt from acclaimed author Joyce Meyer we take a closer look at how we can achieve this in a modern world of empty promise.

“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. - Genesis 1:31

Just Accept It

There are times when we try to give something to someone and have to spend so much time and energy convincing them that we really do want them to have it, that the situation becomes downright embarrassing!!! We just want them to accept it and enjoy it.

If we as humans feel that way, how much more does God feel that way when He tries to give us His love, grace and mercy, and we refuse it because of a false sense of humility or unworthiness? When God reaches out to love us, He is attempting to start a cycle that will bless not only us but also many others.

Acceptance causes us to face reality and then begin to deal with it. We cannot deal with anything as long as we are refusing to accept it or denying its reality.

Webster's II New College Dictionary defines accept in part as:
“1. To receive (something offered), esp. willingly. 2. To admit to a group or place. 3.a. To consider as usual, proper, or right, b. To consider as true.”

Acceptance – An Act of the Will

This definition shows that acceptance involves the will. We have a choice whether we will accept ourselves as we are, as God made us. The definition also shows that when something is accepted, it is viewed as usual, proper or right.

People who reject themselves do so because they cannot see themselves as proper or right. They only see their flaws and weaknesses, not their beauty and strength. This is an unbalanced attitude, one that was probably instilled by authority figures in the past who majored on what was weak and wrong rather than on what was strong and right.

The word acceptance from the same dictionary is defined in part as “approval” and “agreement.” 2 If we are having problems accepting ourselves as we are, I suggest that we need to get into agreement with God that what He created is good - and that includes us.

In Amos 3:3 we read, "Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?" To walk with God, we must agree with God He says He loves us and accepts us; therefore, if we agree with Him, we can no longer hate and reject ourselves.

Total Acceptance

You may see the things in yourself that need to be changed, and it is very difficult for you to think or say, “I accept myself.” You feel that to do so would be to accept all that is wrong with you, but that is not the case. We can’t even begin the process of change until this issue is settled in our individual lives.

The Apostle Paul was convinced that nothing would ever be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We need to have that same absolute assurance of God's undying love for us individually.

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:38,39

Accept Gods love for you and make that love the basis for your love and acceptance of yourself. Receive His affirmation, knowing that you are changing and becoming all that He desires you to be. Then start enjoying yourself - where you are - on your way to full spiritual maturity.”

Excerpts taken from How to Succeed at Being Yourself by Joyce Meyer. You can buy this book at
www.amazon.co.uk