ACCEPTED

When I was a very little girl, (2 or 3) we lived in a newly constructed home that had an open lot at the end of the road. We used to go and play there with other kids. I wanted to so much to be a part of the group.  Yet it never failed, every time I would go, I would be manipulated into doing something I did not want to do, based on my need for acceptance.

I can remember more than once, the older girl would be so sweet to me and then, she would say," Open your mouth and close your eyes and you will get a big surprise!"…and then she would proceed to shove a handful of dandelions in my mouth.  I would go running home crying while she and the other kids laughed.

We all desire to be accepted. Fear of rejection, is one attitude or belief that limits us, and controls us more than we ever realize.  Fear of being rejected is often linked to other attitudes or beliefs about ourselves, and often causes so much pressure that we hide in other behaviors in order to protect the fact that we are afraid…that we may be exposed…and as long as we feel “reject-able” we are always at risk of being manipulated.    Until we find the belief or beliefs and attitudes that are limiting us, and let them go, we are always at risk for emotional manipulation.  It is important to understand the hidden techniques of emotional manipulation.  It aims to alter our emotional state in the negative.  Emotional manipulation aims to steal, kill and destroy our emotional state, and leave us feeling alone, unacceptable, worthless, etc…etc…  

                                          BUT GOD.

We are never alone.  He will never leave us.  We are fully accepted in Christ.  In Him, by the power of His Holy Spirit we are full of His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  It is so important for us to be diligent to guard our hearts against the beliefs or attitudes that are affectionate towards our flesh desires that fight against the Spirit.  It’s in the surrender to the flesh, that we trip and fall into being emotionally manipulated.  God is so faithful to show us, where we let go of Him, and hide somewhere other than the shadow of His wings…I love how faithful He is to bring past situations to mind, and the feelings and emotions that went with them, and show us the pattern that we are reverting to in current situations.  He is faithful to show us the weak places, so that we can look even closer with Him, and see what our attitude or belief is doing to others. If we are willing, He sets our hearts against that belief so that we will battle even harder for the one in our path, so that we will not take from their heart any longer. He is so good, gentle, and full of love for us.  May we be like Him.