Each Friday my writing stems from a word prompt. Five minutes, one word prompt. The prompt this week is … Accept.
Turning to dictionary.com for the definition, I read … “to take or receive something offered; to agree or consent to; to respond or answer affirmatively to.”
As I sit with the definitions before me, the question comes to my mind, “What is it that we are to accept?”
There is much talk about people being accepted, or our own acceptance, but perhaps the greater question for me this morning is this one, “What I am to accept into my own life?
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21, NLT)
James calls us to a life of repentance – a daily putting off of anything contradicting the life we are to live in Christ. The only way we will ever successfully do this is as we accept the Word of God into our souls. We must receive it, consent to let it do its work in our lives, and respond in obedience.
Accepting the Word will take action on our part. Intention. We must determine to set aside time to quiet our souls, read His Word, and let it do the work in our hearts and minds needed each day.
We humbly accept the word, daily – again and again – renewing our faith and letting our roots go down deep into His truth. As we accept His Word, it will save and shape our souls, molding us into the persons God can use for His glory.
May we accept His Word daily.
“For it has the power to save our souls.”
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith On Fire and Faith Filled Friday and Faith ”˜N Friends and Fresh Market Friday .
Humble. Accept. God’s Word. POWER! This is beautiful and may it be so in my life! Blessings!
Thank you for your encouragement, Liz. Sometimes the word He brings can be a hard one. May we not struggle to humbly accept and obey.
His word is the best we can accept because it leads us to his grace. Thanks Joanne.
So true, Debby, and “oh for grace to trust Him more!”
That verse in James says to “accept” with our heart…
Not our mind.
What a revelation.
Heart work is hard work…
but like that verse says, it will save our souls, our very being.
I need to be saved from myself, my mind and mental chatter everyday!
Blessed be my friend!
Heart work is HARD work.
Gypsy, you hit it on the head – twice 🙂
1) Heart work is hard work. And I will add, probably the hardest work we need to do daily.
2) We need to be saved from ourselves, from our mental chatter. Don’t we wish there was an “off” button some days!!! And those are the times, we need to play a new tape – worship music or speaking the Word to ourselves.
You are a blessing, sweet friend! Always! xo
His Name, which is Truth, is the ONLY NAME on earth or in heaven that can save a man. ONLY. Love that we usually “go” in the same direction.
Amen, Susan. And it’s good to have someone travel in the same direction as it makes the ride easier 🙂 xo
Love this! That Word that came as the Word made flesh…what a gift! May we accept it always. I’m in the 6 spot this week.
Love this post! Accept is one of my favorite words from Ephesians chapter one…”accepted in the Beloved son of God.” Many blessings to you â¤ï¸
Beth, I love that you mention Ephesians … He accepts us and we accept His Word planted in our hearts. Such an amazing work He does in our lives. Blessings!
Love this, Joanne!
Holiness is not a destination; it’s a process. You elucidated that brilliantly today.
Andrew, you are so right – holiness is a process. And as we allow the process to work in our lives, we arrive at our destination. No, you my friend, are the one who said it well! Praying for you this morning!
We accept it again and again, day after day. Amen. I love the same quote Andrew shared. For me that is huge as I try to rush the process of growth at times. Thank you!
“Get rid off all the filth and evil your lives…” Sometimes I wonder if our society has allowed so much of it into our lives, simply ACCEPTING and incorporating it, that we don’t even see it anymore.
* It’s just a movie! Those R-rated scenes aren’t affecting me.
* That book is a NYT Best Seller! It would never hurt my relationship with my husband.
* OMG! Anyone still believe that’s taking the name of the Lord our God in vain?
* … and the list goes on.
You’re very wise to ask yourself””and us””to pay attention to what we accept INTO our lives. It’s so easy to let things slip in. Seems like a good time for me to stop and review, asking God to bring to mind anything that may need to be rooted out.