Acceptance & Gratitude

The spiritual disciplines of acceptance and gratitude are easy to practice when all is going well--when the sun is shining and our relationships are fulfilling, when work is going great and the sermon on Sunday touched our hearts. But when all is not well, discontent can rear its ugly head. All of a sudden we're no longer satisfied with our appearance, our friendships, our lives. When we're suffering, acceptance and gratitude can seem impossible. In this two-part study guide, learn about acceptance and gratitude from biblical characters who managed to find both in the midst of suffering. Learn from Leah how to fight discontent and "choose" to see God's goodness and faithfulness. Learn from Job's grief and confusion how to humbly accept difficult circumstances and move on from them. Learn from Mary how to trust and praise God when the future is not clear. And learn from Jesus--the most incredible example of acceptance in history!--how to relinquish our own will and to accept the Father's. ""Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong."" --2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "The purpose of this study guide series is to help you use spiritual practices to make your own life richer, fuller, and deeper. It can be used as a stand-alone Bible study guide for groups or individuals, or as a companion alongside the "Everyday Matters Bible for Women." The twenty-four spiritual practices in this series are "Acceptance, Bible Study & Meditation, Celebration, Community, Confession, Contemplation, Faith, Fasting, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hospitality, Justice, Mentoring, Outreach, Prayer, Reconciliation, Sabbath & Rest, Service, Silence, Simplicity, Solitude, Stewardship, Submission," and "Worship." "