Thrive & FlourishSample

Choose Acceptance

As the sun rises, and as we rub sleep from our eyes, stillness will quickly be replaced by the roar of the day, and demands from all around us. Very soon I will be bombarded by decisions to make, deadlines to meet and people to attend to.  

So now, in this present moment, I have choices to make about how I live this precious gift of a day. Thanks to the incredible role model we have in Jesus, who took time to withdraw from the chaos and demands of the world before the start of his public ministry and before proclaiming his identity, 

I see that I am also free to choose who I will be today.  I am free to choose my mindset, my attitudes and to be intentional about living a life that enables me, others and my world to thrive and flourish…and so today I choose acceptance. 

I genuinely choose to value and respect people for who they are, despite the differences I may notice between them and me. Today I choose to recognize that all people are made in the image of God and loved equally by God. Today I choose to cherish and value the differences between myself and others rather than view them with fear, suspicion or disdain.  And I will notice the times when I am tempted to judge others against different measures.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that I am accepted. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart truly be acceptable in your sight, especially today as I begin to truly reflect upon this amazing value of accepting people for simply who they are, made in your image and loved by you. 

Forgive me Lord if I have not shown your love and acceptance for people and today I choose to look for opportunities to change this, particularly with those who feel isolated, lonely and as though they don’t belong. May I be part of a greater visible change in our world that learns to accept, welcome and love all, in equal measure.