Give Me the Grace to Receive

“It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Yes, absolutely, cries my heart. So I scurry around giving. Pouring out. Nurturing. This is my role, and this is my calling. This is where I lean into Christ-likeness when I listen and serve and help and feed and guide.

Until He whispers, “Receive my rest.”

Rest? Mm-hm. Rest in heaven will be lovely. 

“No, I mean right now.”

Oh, like guard my weekly Sabbath. Okay, working on it, Lord.

“RIGHT NOW.” 

But, there’s so much to do, and so many hurting people, and … and … *sigh*.
You’re right. I’m tired. 

 THE GIVING–RECEIVING–TAKING SCALE

Apparently, I struggle to receive well. It seems that there is a spectrum between giving and taking, with receiving somewhere in the middle. Out of my fear of becoming a taker, I tip too far to the giving side. I forget the joy of receiving well, too…

Receiving help.
Receiving a compliment.
Receiving His grace, His love, His forgiveness, His delight, His rest.
I deserve none of it, yet I’m invited to receive it.

My sweet daughter likes to give me gifts–little drawings, flowers, pretty pebbles–but it seems she hands them to me at the least opportune times, like when I’m washing the dishes or carrying bags in from the car. My hands are busy and full, so I end up telling her to put her precious gift on the table where I can pick it up later. I can’t receive it, and I diminish her joy in giving it.

I wonder how often God feels the same, wanting to give me the gift of His rest or peace, but my hands are too full serving Him to receive it. How often is my head too full of what I’m sure is correct theology to receive a deeper truth? How often is my heart too full of unmet expectations and subsequent disappointments to receive His hope? How often is my life too full of unnecessary yeses to receive His rest? 

This all, of course, carries implications in my human relationships, as well, but in learning to receive gifts from my Father, I’m hopeful that I’ll grow in receiving well from others, too. 

AN INVITATION TO RECEIVE WELL

Today, I invite you to open your physical hands and your spiritual heart to receive Jesus’ love song for you.

“Listen, my radiant one–if you ever lose sight of me, just follow in my footsteps where I lead my lovers. Come with your burdens and cares. Come, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but if you hope in me you will renew your strength. You will soar on wings like eagles; you will run and not grow weary, you will walk and not be faint. 

Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you! You’re my chosen treasure—a priest who is a king, part of a spiritual “nation” set apart as my devoted ones. I called you out of darkness to experience my marvelous light, and now you’re my very own. For at one time you were not mine, but now you are. At one time you knew nothing of my mercy, because you hadn’t received it yet, but now you are drenched with it!

Just ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks! Receive the kingdom of God like a little child, and then you can go and announce that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Give as freely as you have received!”

(Adapted only slightly from Song of Songs 1:8 TPT, Matthew 11:28-30 NIV, Isaiah 30:15 NIV, Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV, Isaiah 43:1b,4 MSG, 1 Peter 2:9a-10 TPT, Matthew 7:7 NIV, John 16:23-24 MSG, Mark 10:15 NIV, Matthew 10:7,8b NLT)

There it is: from the receiving flows the giving. I must let Him pour in before I pour out. Not once, but daily.

He is the living water, offering refreshment for my weary soul; 
He is the bread of life, sustaining me as I partake of Him; 
He is the source of it all, inviting me to receive Him by faith time and time again. 

Today, Jesus, I choose you.

What do you need to let go of in order to receive His fullness well today? Or, what do you struggle to accept as a gift from Him? You might find it helpful to physically represent your surrender by opening your hands, turning them upside down in a motion of letting go, then turning them upward again to a posture of receiving as you pray.