The Battle Within Series | Acceptance

Last week was the start of the six weeks Guest Post series, The Battle Within. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share my blog with a lovely woman named Jane. Be sure to check out her blog, and leave your comments below!

To accept anything in our lives is to recognize what we are dealing with is a valid part of our story. We all have one. A story that is. Mine is different from yours and yours is different from the next person. We are unique as are our stories. Some find their story involves incurable diseases or financial troubles or heartbreak while others, like myself, find that our story involves our minds. I accept that as a valid part of my story and because I accept it I am able to move forward in my life.

I didn’t always find myself in an accepting place in life. Anxiety and I had many arguments. I tried to control it and instead it controlled me. I tried to deny it a place in my life but it continued to push into every open crevice of my life. It would show up at the most inopportune times and deny me joy. I would not accept its presence nor its control over me. Denial was the worst possible move I could make. Denial brought more suffering than was necessary.

I used to think that if I accepted anxiety then I must be giving in to the illness. I would be letting it win and would fall into some deep abyss that would consume me. Acceptance meant anxiety was valid and was part of my life. I did not want to accept that I was anything other than normal. I did not want a label placed on me. I was not my illness. The denial list went on and on, but one day I found acceptance to be my friend. Acceptance brought freedom.

The day I accepted my illness as a valid part of my story was the day my story changed. I can still remember the day that acceptance brought joy. I believe it brought joy because the moment I accepted my illness I also accepted myself for who I was. I was made this way and there was a reason for it. I suddenly become an overcomer through Jesus Christ. My anxiety slowly began to recede and in its place I found peace. I was who I was and there was no label other than the label of daughter of the Most High. I had joy. I had strength. I had a life and it was good.

Today I would like to share three ways that you can find acceptance and healing through Jesus Christ.

1. Accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. This is a very simple step in the process of acceptance and the most important. This is where you become a child of God. This is where you enter into His grace and begin to find healing. It only takes two things: belief and prayer. If you believe in your heart that Jesus is who He says He is all you have to do is pray a simple prayer and ask Him into your life. (see end of this post for prayer) He will not force Himself into your life, but once you ask Him in your life will change forever!
2. Accept the truth of your situation. You may not like the situation you are dealing with. Your diagnosis may disturb you, scare you or crush your feelings, but you must accept the truth. It is what it is. It does not define you. It is not a label. It is simply a part of your story. A part that the Lord can use to His glory. Accept it for what it is and let the Lord work in your life!
3. Allow the Lord to heal you. When you accept your illness for what it is you can begin to honestly speak with the Lord. You can stop hiding behind your frustration and fear and step out unafraid into an active healing process. You can learn to live your life peacefully without allowing your illness to control you. If you are ready to begin the healing process and believe Jesus is the Son of God and walked this earth until the day He died on the cross for your sins I invite you to pray with me today and invite Him into your life:

   Lord,

   I come to you today in faith and acceptance of your life and death for my sins. Thank you for giving me the gift of a relationship with my Heavenly Father. It is through you that I can know Him. It is through you that I have eternal life. Thank you for loving me so much that you died for me. I ask you today to come into my life and give me new life. I ask you for healing and direction. Please give me the strength and wisdom to walk in your will for my life.

   In Jesus Name.

   Amen.

   Jane Reed is the author and creator of The Green Tomato Experience blog and the owner of Jane Reed Photography. She spends the majority of her time in the kitchen where she finds peace and harmony in her life. She is known to enjoy Starbucks Frappucinos even though she knows she shouldn’t. Her favorite woman in the Bible is Ruth because she loves her perseverance and integrity. She is currently working on an amazing cookbook that she hopes will bring peace and joy to your kitchens as well!! All photographs are property of Jane Reed Photography and come from Jane’s personal Stele Collection.