Achieve or Receive?

By Words of Hope, Monday, November 03, 2008

Read: Galatians 3:1-5

. . . receive the Spirit. (v. 2)

Achieve or receive? Two different ways of life, two different ways of prayer. In the first, I concentrate on what I can do to make things happen. In the second, I relax and watch and wait for what God is doing.

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If achievement is my aim in life, I will work for accomplishments. I will do it for the sake of my ego needs: for esteem, power, comfort, and security.

If receptivity is the way I live, then I will gratefully receive the gifts God gives me. I will use them to the best of my ability. It may well be that accomplishments will result, but that will be because of the grace of God. I will live to receive and participate in all that God gives me.

If achievement is the way I pray, then I will be trying to get God to do what I want. If receptivity is the way I pray, I will be open to whatever God wants to do with me. I will listen. I will spend time in communion with the One who gives me life and loves me. Then I will respond in word and deed to what God calls me to do.

Prayer: Giver of all Good Gifts, let me be receptive to your grace and love. In Christ. Amen.

Used with Permission