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ACCEPTANCE

5/26/2014

2 Comments

 
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Relationship Devotional: Acceptance by Karla Downing

Acceptance is a powerful yet overlooked and misunderstood concept. When we aren’t accepting people, places, and things as they are, we are actively fighting them at some level. The fight exhausts us and takes our physical, emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual energy. There is an internal struggle and restlessness that goes something like this: “I don’t like it. I don’t want it. I want something different. Why does it have to be this way?” Can you hear in that dialogue the desire to change things? Can you see how it actually prevents you from getting to the necessary dialogue of “It is what it is; now what?”

You have more power over yourself than things outside yourself. Once you accept the things you cannot change, you can then look at your personal choices. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:

  • What are you thinking and feeling about the situation?
  • Can you change your attitude so you will feel differently?
  • Do you need to take some action that you have avoided?
  • Is it time to set a boundary?
You can always change your response to your circumstances, thereby changing their power over you. Perspective matters too. God uses whatever comes into our lives for his glory and our good (Romans 8:28). Knowing that no suffering is wasted often empowers us to endure tough times. Surrendering your will and life to God will allow you to let go of the outcome and be aligned with his purpose.

Acceptance is frequently misunderstood to include tolerance of things that are wrong, but acceptance isn’t about having weak boundaries; it is about letting go of the restlessness and futile struggle we often engage in that keeps us wishing things were different, thereby preventing us from taking responsibility for decisive action.


God,  Help me accept the people and circumstances in my life just as they are, so I can be free to respond to them in the best way possible.  Amen


2 Comments
Heidi
5/26/2014 03:05:09 pm

Sometimes in takes me a while to get to that place of acceptance. However, when I do accept something I don't like I feel released and free to enjoy the blessings that I otherwise might not notice or appreciate. For example in some ways I enjoy my relationship with my father more now than ever before, having accepted that he is in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. (we laugh together and he enjoys my songs etc ). In some things I've learned to accept. There is another relationship where I still struggle with it although I have dropped my expectations so I think I'm on the right road :)

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Christine Priestman
5/27/2014 02:45:58 pm

It takes me a little while to accept new situations. I need to know the why and the wherefore in order to sort through the feelings and actions that come with each situation. Then I am better able to accept and let go of the struggle that comes with finally getting there.

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