(Man, this three part post has been longer than I thought 😅 I really struggle with it though, and writing it out has helped me see where I have learned and grown, and how much I still need to grow. Hopefully something good comes from posting it!)
Part 3
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I have a hard time accepting certain things. The main categories I can break it down into is:
1. Help from others
2. Compliments
3. Gifts
This one is very similar to what I wrote on accepting help.
When we don't accept a gift, we rob someone of opportunity of being obedient to God. We rob them at the chance of being obedient in giving. It's hard to start being obedient in giving! We have natural instincts of self preservation and giving away our resources goes against those instincts.
But that's where we need to trust God. If someone is about to step out in faith and give for the first time, be it money, a service, time, an object...and you tell them no thanks, that's rude first of all, but more importantly, it's going to hinder them. You're stealing their chance at obedience and stealing their chance at growing their faith. Some verses that reflect this:
Proverbs 11:24
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want
Galatians 6:10
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith
No one is just going to come up and give of their own free will if they can't afford to give, or if they haven't been nudged by God.
If you're bad at accepting things, don't outright say no. Tell them! Say hey, wow this is such a generous offer! But I am REALLY bad at accepting gifts. Chances are, they'll reassure you that they really want to or that God wants them to do this.
Bear in mind, that when we receive that gift, that blessing, we can use it to help other people! If you get money or a service or a vehicle or whatever, look for the opportunity in there to use it to bless others! Maybe there's an opportunity to use it to spread the gospel somehow. It's like a double whammy, they're stretching their faith by giving, you're getting a blessing and an opportunity to be a good steward of what you've been given.
Here are some verses on doing good things with what you've been given.
Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms
And when you go to give, and they don't want to accept it, let them know. It's a God thing! Just roll with it and use it to help others.
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Phew! That's all done. I hope this encourages those of you that struggle with acceptance. And helps those of us who encounter those that struggle with acceptance!
YOU ARE READING
Volume 2
Spirituelles*completed* Here we go with round 2...me writing down my personal revelations and "aha!" moments to help encourage and hopefully help or uplift you. All comments, questions, prayer requests, topic suggestions, and constructive criticism are welcome!
