You are not an accident

by AmazingGrace Coach

"You are not an accident." Rick Warren (founding pastor of Saddleback Church) said in his book "The Purpose Driven Life - What on earth am I here for?", the #1 New York Times bestseller which over 15 million copies were sold.

I would like to share this inspiring and reassuring poem with you by Russell Kelfer (founder of the Discipleship Tape Ministries, Inc.), which was quoted by Warren to sum up his point made on acceptance of self.

"You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so.
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into His likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!"

A big part of self-acceptance is about loving oneself. The Bible says, "God is love" (1 Corinthians 7:31). And for this reason, a necessary process of self-acceptance is also about accepting God, the Creator of the universe, into one's heart. It is about letting down our preconceptions and welcoming the Divine Love into our inner world of being. It is about agreeing that "it is not all about me", but that "Everything got started in [God] and finds its purpose in Him" (Colossians 1:16b). It is about understanding the deeper meaning and significance of "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This is the fundamental belief of Christianity, that Jesus came to light up this world; and out of love, died on the cross for us in order to save us and give us eternal life.

I will quote here another scripture from the Bible that, I feel, summarizes in essence the nature of God's unconditional love:

"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:15-19)

A lot of the times when people are at a lost on their life path, they'll hear advice prompting them to look deeper inside them to find the answers to their problems. But many people mistaken that as focusing on the "self", on the "ego", the "what about me?" attitude; and thus they could be looking till kingdom come, and still not able to find the solution or the ultimate purpose of their life. When one says to look "inside" of us, it is about focusing on the Divine Love that lives in each of our hearts. Dr. Robert Schuller (founder of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries) explained in his book "The Be Happy Attitudes" that God, when He created man in His own image (Genesis 1:26), had put "faith" into each of our hearts; and so it became our innate ability to relate to God. The means of this relation is through prayer and faith, i.e. confidence and trust in God to impart this Love upon us when we humbly and sincerely ask for it. As we relate to God, we are receiving the Love of the Father on the Spirit level. It is only on this level can we find peace, and that our longing for the Father's Love is fulfilled.

As Christians we have a direct line to God because of Jesus Christ. It is possible to approach God anytime because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, who paid for our sins on the cross. Therefore, in order to receive God into one's heart, the first step is to recognize the importance of receiving Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as one's saviour. It is this acceptance that brings forth the friendship and fellowship of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so they can work within you to find everlasting peace and joy. It is a close and trusted relationship that requires commitment but not labour. It is about surrendering the "self", the "ego", and recognizing that God, the Father, is the almighty wisdom, power and glory; while we, as children of God and vessels of God's love, receive, realize and carry out His will on earth in our daily life.

The meaning and significance of this connection and communion are profound and life changing. As one acknowledges Jesus and His love, one is on the way to enjoying a new, enlightened, and blessed life in the Spirit!

Peace be with you.

AmazingGrace

Copyright © 2005 Grace Lee, Milpitas CA

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