I’ve been walking with the Lord now for almost 4 years and this topic of being able to receive from God has been a theme all throughout this journey. I’m going to do my best to articulate what I mean and why I believe it is important for you, the reader, to understand.

I’ll start with Ephesians 2:8-9 that says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast”.

Our entire faith is based on a gift given to us by Almighty God. Through Christ and the finished work of the cross we have been given the gift of reconciliation to God the Father. We have been given— by nothing we’ve done to deserve, or earn it— right relationship with our Creator. The very basis of our faith is being willing to receive this gift and accept it by faith.

When I first began walking with Jesus I received freedom from addiction, deliverance from unhealthy relationships, and I was received by the Lord out of the darkness into His glorious light. None of this could have occurred unless I was willing to receive it by faith.

But one of the things God used in the most obvious way was when I was invited to live with my pastors and they took me in. For awhile I struggled deeply feeling like I had to leave as soon as possible. I did nothing to earn this space of safety, love, and stability they so generously made available for me. Like an orphan having been without comfort, alone in this cold world, I was given a family.

I literally did not have the capacity to receive this much love from God’s people at first. Prior to knowing Christ, I had been hurt. I lived a life void of true agape love. The whole other side of this topic could be exploring what hinders us from receiving the fullness of God. The list could include past wounding, unbelief, pride, fear, lack of repentance, judgment, and of course bitterness to name a few. But as James 4:10 says, “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up”.

I believe God had to spoon feed me His goodness. Probably knowing if He gave me too much all at once I may try and retreat back to the safety and comfort of my old dark places. Receiving this much love was already uncomfortable. I was scared but His love has always been steady. He proved me that love is patient. Giving me space to learn that it was okay to receive what He wanted to give me. Like a father gives good gifts to the child he loves, God was loving me back to wholeness through the people He placed in my life.

Now, why would God care to increase our capacity to receive? Why would this be important for the God of the universe to achieve? I believe 1 John 3:1 says it best, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”. In other words— God, our Father, loves us so deeply, so unbelievably much, and all He wants is to pour out this love on His children— you and me.

We did nothing to deserve to be here— alive and breathing. Every breath we take, the strength we have to walk and be, the mind we have to think— all of this was given. We are His creation, and through Jesus, we are redeemed, restored and adopted into God’s family. By grace through faith we are forgiven of every stain of sin that has ever tainted our heart.

For God so loved the world, His very own Son He gave that we should not perish but live eternally. A piece of why I believe He increases our capacity to receive is that we may taste and see a glimpse of the glory He has planned for those who love Him. In this life and unto eternity. He increases our capacity to hold His holiness as temples of the Holy Spirit.

His love for us is a deeply personal and individual thing. Like the prodigal son, we are returning to the Father, who runs to receive us at the very first sight of our returning. Showering us with blessings. Kissing us to the ground. His heart is— “My child! He/she has returned to me!”. We’ve made a mess of our lives but His love lavishes us. He already made the way toward redemption, in fact, He is the Way. Our role, receive. Receive His word. Receive the finished work of the cross. Receive His love. Receive Him fully — and this is all by faith.

A missing key here that I cannot go without mentioning is the importance of trusting. Unless we trust in Him we cannot faithfully receive. Proverbs 3:5-6 says to, “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding^, in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight”. If we don’t trust God we will not submit to His leading and we will be no better off than where we started.

How do we trust someone? We get to know them. We spend time in their presence. And beautifully, this is exactly the Father’s heart for His children, that they know Him. Matthew 6:33 says to “seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all else will be added upon you”. Our Father is worthy of our trust and He will pour out evidence of this if you just seek. We are created to walk in the cool of the day in intimate fellowship with our Heavenly Father. Abiding— Him in us, us in Him.

God’s love has already been freely given. Jesus Christ already shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins. The way has already been made— now, for you and me, the choice we have to make is to walk in it. To be willing to hope, willing to trust in this God named YAHWEH. That, from this, we receive His promises by faith and live to discover that our God is able to do exceedingly above all that we may even be able to ask or think. I can attest to you— He is too good and it is true.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever."
Psalm 23:6