Dear Lord; Good afternoon Father.
Thank You Lord, for starting my day off so pleasantly this morning. I always like waking to the sound of Your Voice in my head, especially when the message is “Today is a Good Day”. Well, it’s just after lunchtime here now and so far it truly has been as you prepared me; A good day. 🙂
In the beginning of the year Father, You gave me a word to focus my energies and prayers on. It wasn’t a word I would have chosen sans Your intervention, but You were quite insistent at the time as I remember so I adopted it as my own. The word was Accept.
Today Lord, I thought I’d discuss a couple of the ways “our” word choice has impacted me thus far, and presented itself in my life.
The beginning of “The Serenity Prayer” comes immediately to mind Father :
“God, grant me the serenity to Accept the things I cannot change…” – Reinhold Niebuhr
As You know, this has always been a rough one for me Lord. Many of my most significant upsets have come from situations which I have little or no control over. With Your help, I’ve been working on this flaw in my character and I can honestly say that we’ve made some progress. I still have more than a few stresses in my life right now, but I’ve learned to better Accept those things which I can’t fix and focus my efforts on the ones I can make positive change in.
Along those same lines Father, I’m learning to Accept assistance more readily from others as well. I’ve always prided myself (I know… another nasty word, but we’re making progress on that flaw too.) on being reasonably independent, but through my journey to You I’ve realized that You put us all here together for a reason. When I can help someone, I should but I also need to be open to Accepting help from others as well. It’s still a struggle sometimes for me to show that vulnerability, but I’m happy to say that barrier is lower than it used to be.
Needless to say, I now understand why You chose this word for me. I obviously have some significant room for growth and Acceptance appears to be the key to much of that.
Heavenly Father, thank You for continuing to Guide me in Your Grace. I am but clay in Your Skillful Hands, eager to be molded into a form which can best serve Your Will. Amen.
~Phather Phil
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
“I am but clay in Your Skillful Hands, eager to be molded into a form which can best serve Your Will.” This is my prayer too!
Thank you Lisa! The image of a potter’s hands working the clay just flooded my head as I was writing for some reason. I’ve very much felt like God has been molding me as of late… Can’t wait to see the final product! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
As a recovering control-freak, I know exactly where you are coming from. I can relate so well to this post. There is power in accepting our weakness and accepting things that are way beyond our control. Thanks!
I understand completely Eileen! With God’s help, I’m recovering as well. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I love the line that you are just clay in the Skillful hands. I am ready to molded into what every the Potter has designed me to be.
I loved the image He put in my head of the potter working the clay… It just fit the way I’ve been feeling lately.
Have a Blessed Day!
I love the Serenity Prayer… and being clay in His skillful hands is such an amazing position to be in!
As do I Alida, it’s one of my favorites!
Oh and btw, congratulations on the house! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I am not good at accepting help either… but, I’m learning and isn’t that what we’re here for to act as His ever present help to one another. If we go denying the help that’s being offered we may as well be denying God himself because that help has likely come from Him! Blessings!
Excellent point Heidi. He put us all here together to help one another, so we need to remember that when someone offers assistance.
Have a Blessed Day!
Great prayer Phil. I want to give things over to God. I can not control everything nor do I need to try. Thank you for this reminder.
Thank you Jenifer! He’s been working on me to Accept that I need to give some control up in my life. We’re all works in progress! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I have a really hard time with acceptance too. I’m stubborn and independent and just generally feel like I need to be in control of everything. I think those things can be good qualities…in moderation. When you take them to the extreme (like I have before!) you just end up distancing yourself from others. And that’s not a fun way to live.
I’ll pray for more “acceptance” from both of us in our lives 🙂
Welcome Trish! I fall into the same categories as well I’m afraid, but God’s been showing me how to better balance those in my life. Thank you for the prayers, and for the comment!
Have a Blessed Day!
Great thought today, Phil. You made me think about the word(s) guiding my year. time to reflect on their impact on me so far, too. I like that idea. Thanks for encouraging me to pray deeper about these words from God.
Thank you Jean! I was pleasantly surprised when I started thinking about the year so far and how “my word” has affected me. Still a long way to go though! 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!