06/15/2016
How I need grace, grace and more grace!
Have you ever felt like you have failed, messed up? People say things about you- but theyâre half truths or just outright lies? That friends have turned against you, betrayed you? You may realize that yes, there is some truth to some of the things that have been said, but they still cut deep into your heart.
You have cried out to God to change you â maybe even for years â yet you still have these same shortcomings. There seems to be some things in your life you just CANâT change! Those things seem to bother other people â and you too!
And of course, the devil is always whispering in one ear that you are definitely a âscrew-upâ. Youâll never change. No one really likes you too much, much less loves you. God might tolerate you, but thatâs about it! So if God REALLY loved you, your life would be really wonderful and happy. You would have tons of friends and be full of joy and happiness always.
Well, OK, sorry, but that is not me. But the other day, I had a major revelation from the Lord. Though I have asked Him to change me MANY times, maybe I am still trying in my own strength. I know I cannot change myself no matter how hard I try. And I have surely tried!
For now, I see my glaring weaknesses. Seems to be part of my personality. But then I start thinking of the disciples and how very different each one was. They certainly werenât perfect in any way. Yet Jesus chose them to spread the Gospel and change the world â what a motley crew! I know I would have never chosen them for my team! Just look at Peter. He denied even knowing Jesus three times! Peter was brash, bold, forward and loud yet Jesus used him to build His church. The Lord mercifully forgave him when he had outright denied him!
Wow! What amazing grace and mercy from the Ruler of the entire universe! What love and forgiveness! God opened my eyes to see how desperately I need Godâs grace and mercy every single day. I literally felt TONS of grace flooding my soul. Never in my life had I felt the weight of grace on me like that! I wept. I thanked God over and over. He takes me every day just the way I am. He loves me â regardless! I am His daughter. He does delight in me!
The words of Paul encourage me so much and ring in my heart over and over â itâs ALL by grace. Here is 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.
â8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, âMy grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.â Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christâs sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.â
His grace is enough for me! Maybe my âweaknessâ will never go away. Maybe God gets glory in my life- even in and through my weaknesses after all. I recognize I am so weak and vulnerable in my own strength. Itâs only in His strength, power and grace that I can do anything at all! The word âgraceâ has been said to mean Godâs unmerited, unearned favor and it surely is that. However it is so much more. It is Godâs power and enablement to fulfill His plan in my life, knowing I can live in victory only by Godâs strength.
Oh how I need to live in that grace today! I am so hungry to experience more of Jesus and His amazing grace. Just a touch and I am overwhelmed! Dwelling on my messâups and weaknesses does not glorify Jesus at all. The devil loves that- and I definitely donât want to play into any of his dirty little tricks!
So I am so thankful today that I have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 6:8) and now I will live and walk in that grace every single day. 2 Corinthians 4:15 says: âFor all things are for your sake, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.â I will choose to praise God today and every day for His grace to me. No, I donât deserve it, not even in the slightest. That is what makes grace âgraceâ.
I pray that you too will receive Godâs amazing grace even in and through your own weaknesses and shortcomings. We all have them. Maybe God is saying to you,â My grace is perfected in your weakness.â Yes, you donât like those weaknesses and others probably arenât fond of them either. But hey, they will keep you and me humble, not proud and exalted. James 4:6 reads, âBut He gives more grace. Therefore He says âGod resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.ââ
Grace to you, dear friend. Grace, grace and more grace! Relax and just receive that grace today from the mighty throne of grace! Godâs power, Godâs unearned favor, Godâs love, Godâs strength, Godâs presence - ALL you need is wrapped up in His amazing grace. Oh, I am so desperate for that every day. I hope and pray you are too. âHis grace is sufficient for you.â 2 Cor.12:9. Just receive it. May Godâs grace overtake you right now!
Love, Sandy
