Hendrickson Publishers - Acceptance: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life

Everyday life today is busier and more distracting than it has ever been before. While cell phones and texting make it easier to keep track of children and each other, they also make it harder to get away from the demands that overwhelm us. Time, it seems, is a shrinking commodity. But God, the Creator of time, has given us the keys to leading a life that may be challenging but not overwhelming. In fact, he offers us tools to do what seems impossible and come away refreshed and renewed. These tools are called spiritual practices, or spiritual disciplines.

Spiritual practices are holy habits. They are rooted in Gods word, and they go back to creation itself. God has hardwired us to thrive when we obey him, even when it seems like his instructions defy our common sense. When we engage in the holy habits that God has ordained, time takes on a new dimension. What seems impossible is actually easy; its easy because we are tapping into Gods resources.

The holy habits that we call spiritual practices are all geared to position us in a place where we can allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, to grant us power and strength to do the things we cant do on our own. They take us to a place where we can become intimate with God.

While holy habits and everyday life may sound like opposites, they really arent.

As you learn to incorporate spiritual practices into your life, youll find that everyday life is easier. At the same time, you will draw closer to God and come to a place where you can luxuriate in his rich blessings. Here is a simple example. Elizabeth Collings hated running household errands. Picking up dry cleaning, doing the grocery shopping, and chauffeuring her kids felt like a never-ending litany of menial chores. One day she had a simple realization that changed her life. That day she began to use her chore time as a time of prayer and fellowship with God.

Whenever Elizabeth walked the aisle of the supermarket, she prayed for each person who would eat the item of food she selected. On her way to pick up her children, she would lay their lives out before God, asking him to be there for them even when she couldnt. Each errand became an opportunity for fellowship with God. The chore that had been so tedious became a precious part of her routine that she cherished.

The purpose of these study guides is to help you use spiritual practices to make your own life richer, fuller, and deeper. The series includes twenty-four spiritual practices that are the building blocks of Christian spiritual formation. Each practice is a holy habit that has been modeled for us in the Bible. The practices are acceptance, Bible study and meditation, celebration, community, confession, contemplation, faith, fasting, forgiveness, gratitude, hospitality, justice, mentoring, outreach, prayer, reconciliation, Sabbath and rest, service, silence, simplicity, solitude, stewardship, submission, and worship.

As you move through the practices that you select, remember Christs promise in Matthew 11:2830:

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

Introduction

to the Practice of Acceptance

Some spiritual practices are more difficult than others, and in this study the practice of acceptance is probablyunder most circumstancesone of the hardest for many of us. How does one accept living with the consequences of somebody elses bad behavior? Or losing a relationship or a job through no fault of your own? How does a wife or mother accept the senseless death of her husband or child? How does a single person who has sorely desired marriage and family for decades truly accept living alone?

This study focuses on acceptance and tackles questions like these. But be preparedthere are no easy answers. Being a follower of Christ is no guarantee of being spared heartache and pain. Jesus said to his followers, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Jesus also told his followers to take up their crosses and follow him. But he did not say, Take up your cross and Ill follow you. Jesus went ahead of us and cleared the way; he shows us how to navigate the hard times in this life and promises peace with him.

As you prepare to study acceptance, here are some things you can do to prepare your heart and mind in order to get the most out of these studies:

• Make a list of the things in your life that you are having the most trouble accepting.
• Confess to God that you are struggling with these issues. Remember that you can be totally honest with God; that is one of the privileges of being in authentic relationship with him.
• Ask him to use your time of study to speak to your heart in a way that will help you move toward acceptance.
• Return to your list after youve completed the four studies on each topic. Note any new insights, shifts or changes in your approach to the items on the list that you have gained during your time of study.

Our generous God enables us to do things we never thought possible. James wrote in his epistle, Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.... If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you (James 1:2, 5a).

C H A P T E R 1

Cant Get No Satisfaction

Fighting Discontent

This is what the Lord... says: Look at whats happening to you!... You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!