“Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus ChristHe has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ” Ephesians 1:3
Most women I know are great givers, but not necessarily great receivers. When I reflect on this, I think it’s because God created us to be helpers for her husband, companions for her colleagues and friends, and even nurses for her children when they are sick.
It is natural for us to serve our families, contribute to our workplaces, and give of ourselves until we have nothing left to give. However, learning to receive is very important for our health and growth. It is part of who we were created to be to receive all the blessings that are available to us through Christ Jesus.
If you are a great giver but struggle to receive, I hope this post will be of great encouragement to you. It is possible to receive with joy, with open arms of faith, and with a heart of gratitude.
it starts with belief
When you read that verse, Acts 20:35 If Paul is saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” you might think that Paul is telling the early church that it is wrong to receive. However, if we look at the overall context of this chapter, we see that Paul is talking about greed and how he avoided this problem by working to provide for himself and his companions. Masu.
What we believe about receiving is very important. If we have the mindset that we must always give, serve, and help, but never receive, be served, or be helped, we will fall apart and miss out on the blessings of those around us. Masu.
Many times I witnessed my mother or mother-in-law busy in the kitchen while the rest of the family enjoyed their time together. Usually with a little coaxing you can get them to stop and join in the fellowship, but it is clear that their natural inclination is to serve.
in Psalm 34:8David said. “Taste that the Lord is good. Blessed are the receivers. Give him refuge.” This verse invites us to partake of the Lord’s mercy and take refuge in Him. Masu. There is no mention of giving, but rather of receiving.
Learning to receive begins with faith, the belief that God gives good gifts to his children and wants us to receive them with joy and gratitude. Pray and ask the Lord to change the way you think about “receiving” and begin to accept the wonderful blessings He is showering on you.
Here are some other resources to help you on your journey:
Why does the book of Acts say it is better to give than to receive?
Prayer to change your way of thinking
15 things to do when you need to change your perspective
humility is needed
It can feel awkward when someone gives us a compliment or word of affirmation, especially if we’re not good at receiving it. Our tendency may be to say things like “Oh, it’s really nothing” or “If only you knew the real me!” But what if we humbly, sincerely and gratefully receive the kind words of others? Their words of affirmation continue to bless us, instead of being quickly ignored and forgotten? Imagine that.
In ESV, Proverbs 22:4 “The reward for humility and the fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life.” This verse first emphasizes humility, but it also talks about the riches, honor, and rewards that come when we are humble before God. is also emphasized.
Learning to receive requires humility, the kind of humility that allows us to accept things from others with true gratitude. Rather than cover up acts of kindness or take them lightly, I intentionally pause long enough to appreciate the kindness of others and the blessings of God.
This isn’t always easy, but the more you practice humbly accepting what others give you with a simple and sincere “thank you,” the better you’ll be at receiving it. So the next time you receive a compliment or an unexpected act of kindness, pause for a moment before responding. Look the other person in the eye and let them know that you truly appreciate them.
Here are some other resources to help you on your journey:
What is humility? The meaning and importance of the Bible for Christians
Why you need to learn how to take compliments well
The grace and greatness of true humility
need practice
Learning how to receive well doesn’t happen overnight, but fortunately there are many times throughout the year when you can put it into practice. Holidays, celebrations, work gatherings, church settings…all of these provide opportunities to not only serve others, but to receive from them. This will be in the following format:
-Special gifts
– Awards and promotions
-Verbal compliments
– Help with projects and tasks
– wisdom, advice, guidance
In each scenario, we can learn to graciously accept without false guilt or false humility. Yes, it takes practice, but like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get. At your next gathering, be intentional about receiving. Don’t leave the compliment alone. Don’t skimp on promotions. Don’t refuse help people offer. Be willing to receive what others are willing to give. In time, you too will become an expert giver and receiver.
Here are some other resources to help you on your journey:
6 ways to ask for wise advice in life
What James 1:17 means: “Every good and perfect gift is from heaven”
grow with gratitude
It may seem counterintuitive to give more in order to receive more, but when it comes to gratitude, that’s exactly how it works. In fact, have you ever prayed with open arms, eagerly anticipating what God has in store for you that day?
This is a simple habit to incorporate into your personal time with the Lord. As you do so, you will find that your gratitude for the Lord’s rich blessings increases. You will learn how to expectantly seek God’s truth, God’s will, and God’s ways, and receive the spiritual blessings God has already given you. Ephesians 1:3.
Remember, the Lord is the Giver – He is the Giver of life, love, and infinite grace. It means that, as daughters of God, we receive God’s abundant life, eternal love, and never-ending grace. When we think of receiving from this perspective, receiving becomes wonderful and enjoyable for us. And the more we lavish gratitude and praise on our good Father, the more we want to receive daily gifts from him.
John Wesley said: “Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer. It is almost essentially connected with it. He who always prays always praises both in times of ease and in times of pain, both prosperity and the greatest adversity. He bless God in all things, ascribing them as coming from God, and accepting them for God’s sake.”
Let us learn to receive as we grow in gratitude to God who loves us and blesses us with all good things. Let’s stop and practice receiving it wholeheartedly. And let us humbly accept and rejoice in the kindness offered by others, believing that both giving and receiving are good.
Here are some other resources to help you on your journey:
4 ways gratitude can change your mindset
There are good reasons to be thankful.
attitude of gratitude
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tom Merton
jennifer waddle He is the author of several books including. Prayer WORRIER: Turn every worry into a powerful prayer, He is also a regular contributor to LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncourageMama.com You can find her books and subscribe to weekly posts here. don’t get discouraged‘win. She lives with her family near her favorite place on earth, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
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