Acceptance...

  How many times do we look for acceptance in worldly aspects? We strive, pursue and live to please those around us and become accepted by those we come in contact with on a regular basis. Honestly, its tiring and a bit stressful. The good news is this...

"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God and others will approve of you too."

-Romans 14:17,18

"However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them."

-John 6:37

  The answer to all our daily stress to be perfect is simple... stop. Stop trying to please everyone and trying to live a flawless life in order to fulfill God's plans. The only thing you need to strive towards is your relationship with your Father. I frequently find myself trying to please everyone. I constantly wonder if someone took something I said the wrong way or assumed something that I didn't intend, and its personally exhausting and draining. I waste so much time wondering and worrying about how I appear to others, when I could spend that time getting to know the One who's opinion matters the most. Just like these verses say our acceptance is in Jesus. When we live to please Him, we will please those we need to. Living a life filled with Him is promised to be a life of abundance. When the goodness of God is on the inside of you, and you allow it to shine through, others won't be able to stay away. They will see something different in you; something they want. The love of God is attractive. So my realization of beauty in this is live to please One, not all. It is so much easier to strive to please someone who already loves you despite your flaws and mistakes; someone who will NEVER reject you. He accepts you despite the things you have done, may do and will do in the future. God IS love. He loves because thats who he is. So release the stress of trying to be perfect, and rest in the presence of the perfect One.