Can You Learn How to Receive?

Learning how to receive

There is a story that can be found in the Bible that illustrates this week’s principle very well. 

In the New Testament book of John chapter 13 verses 4-9, it says:

“(Jesus) riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”

John 13:4-9 KJV

The person we are focusing on today is Peter.

Peter is a super close friend to Jesus. When Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection, Peter is head apostle.

So then why did Peter try and reject the gift of service being offered by Jesus? Why wouldn’t Peter let Jesus wash his feet? 

In this situation, Peter had a temporary lapse in judgement. He forgot to how to receive.

Peter thought of people who served as being below the people whom they were serving. And since Peter puts Jesus above himself, there was no way he was going to let Jesus wash his feet.

Jesus quickly corrects him and Peter fixes his mistake immediately.

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Success Principle of the Week – Learning How to Receive

 Today’s success principle is being actively open to receiving. 

We have talked a lot about giving in the past few weeks.  (such as here, here, and here).

We know that the more value you create with more people, the better off you are. But let’s face it – if you give and never receive, eventually you will run out of things to give. 

You can not breathe out indefinitely. You can’t have your heart contract to push out blood forever. 

Eventually, you will have to take in new air and blood to keep you alive: but also so that you can give it back out. 

Not only should you be willing to receive you should be actively open to it. And the good news is that you can learn how to receive.

Look at Peter in this story. He goes from being completely closed to receiving, to allowing not just his feet to be washed, but his hands and head too.  That is not being passively open. That is being actively open.

How To Receive Actively

Being actively open comes in many different forms.

Curiosity, dreaming big, and being engaged in learning are all examples of being actively open to receiving. 

Curiosity is a very natural part of kids, especially young kids. 

This is great! Curiosity gives children sponge-like learning abilities. 

Unfortunately, when children start ‘asking too many questions,’ we as adults tend to squash the curiosity right out of them. 

I know what it is like to have a never-ending stream of questions coming at you. Sometimes this can seem frustrating: especially when you’re busy with something urgent that takes a lot of focus. But if you squash that out of your kids (or yourself) then you can plan on slowing down all future learning.

Are You Actively Open To Receiving?

If you find yourself never wondering about the people or world around you, you likely have an ‘actively open to receiving’ problem. 

This is bad because you can’t improve or move to better places spiritually, financially, or physically if you are not open to receiving.

Dreaming Big

Having big dreams is a good indicator of or your level openness.

When you were a child, you likely had a picture of who you would be and what kinds of big accomplishments you planned on doing.  Eventually, life and repeated failure took its toll and you settled. 

If you have settled or resigned yourself to the life you have even though it was not the one you pictured then you might have a receiving problem. 

How can things get better if you are not actively changing you and your life? The short answer is they probably can’t. 

You will never obtain your dreams if you do not grow into the person who deserves those dreams. 

Engaged Learning

Engaged learning is also a key indicator of your willingness to receive.

When was the last time you put forth some effort and learned something new? 

Has it been awhile? 

Well, today is a new day and you can be a new you today if you choose to be. 

Go out and learn something new! Learn about something you have been thinking about, but haven’t taken the time to learn. Or just pick a random topic and study that!

Take someone with you such as a spouse or child. 

Help transform your child’s curiosity into engaged learning.  This will make your children life-long learners. And if you teach them how to learn, the world is their oyster. 

They can and will learn everything they need to in order to become everything they are dreaming about becoming.

Are People Trying To Serve You?

When is the last time someone asked you if they could do anything for you?

I know for me at least, this happens fairly often. 

I used to always say something like ‘I’m good’ or ‘no’.  But maybe I needed to be learning how to receive.

I had the idea that I should be an island of independence and never receive any input from anybody if at all possible. 

I have, like Peter since, repented of this mindset and I always try and come up with some way for that person to serve me so that they can have the opportunity to give.

Isn’t this what they are really asking when they ask if there is something they can do for you?  They are saying, “I have lots to give, would you be willing to let me give to you?” 

If you say no then you are in essence replying, ”I don’t think you’re good enough to give to me.” Or “I am not good enough to get from you.” (Like Peter did)

Either way, you are placing people in different playing fields. And aren’t we all equal in the eyes of God? 

Peter at least seemed justified because he was dealing with The Christ, but as we can see, even that was a bad thing.

Many of us are so afraid of receiving that we won’t even take something from God himself. 

We could be praying for a way to financially support ourselves after a layoff, or other income loss. But when someone is inspired to give us an opportunity that would help us out, we turn them down simply because it does not look like the blessing we were praying to receive. 

A Silly Analogy

“Daddy I wanted the cherry red Ferrari with pretty wheels to get to the top of the mountain, not this worn out looking Jeep.” 

And so, when God gives us a Jeep, we huff off and complain that He never gives us what we want.    What if there was a guy at the top of the mountain that only the Jeep could get up and he would trade you the Jeep for his Ferrari?  You need to decide what you really want – is it to get to the top of the mountain or is it to look cool never making it there? 

God always gives you what you need, but that is not always what you want.  If you’re not actively open to receiving, then you will never get the tools you need to reach the top of the mountain. 

How Do You Become Open To Receiving?

So how do you restore, or obtain an active openness to receiving if you have lost yours?  Those tips are being sent out to our subscribers. If you want to receive those tips yourself, sign up for them below!