Grace

Today on FaceBook a friend posted a video from Oprah that had a quote about GRACE.  Oprah states that, "Grace mirrors the gratitude you have."  As I reflected on this, I began to reflect on grace and ask myself if I truly live a life that reflects God's grace in my Christian walk and through my gratitude toward Him.

One of my favourite Bible verses is, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  ~2 Corinthians 12:9

I know that I am weak and that it is Christ who gives me strength.  This week at work was long and exhausting as I worked with my admin team to prepare for a presentation for Friday.  During the week, there were times when I wondered if the work was going to get done and if we would be prepared.  I received a text from a friend who was checking in on me as she had sensed my need and was praying for me.  I shared with her the stress of the week but also told her that I am trusting God to be faithful and take care of the details that can't be done by my own strength.  This is truly grace. God extends grace to us and it reveals itself in our weakness.  He is powerful and it is His power that is shown when we are at our weakest.

Grace does indeed change everything.  I came across a devotion entitled, "Five Ways to Relax in God's Grace."  I really needed to relax at times during the week with how busy it was.  The main question centered on:  How do you RELAX in God's liberating grace?  An acronym was used to help us relax in this truth.  And relax is what I needed indeed.

Realize nobody's perfect
No one is perfect.  The Word of God is perfect and we can build our lives on that foundation.

Enjoy God's unconditional Love
1 John 3:1 reminds us that we are loved by a heavenly Father who loves us and calls us His children. As a Christ follower, we are a child of the King.  We are accepted and loved by Him and we can be grateful for this love relationship and rest secure in this unconditional love.

Let God handle things
It is so easy to try to be in control but when we give up control to Him, we know that His ways are better than our ways.  When we let go and allow God to do the work, amazing things result.  I am so grateful for this and that I can cast my worries and anxiety on Him, knowing that He cares enough to carry it for me.  I know that I often get caught up in my perfectionist ways but I know that it is God's ways that are perfect, not my own.

Act in faith, not fear
We need to be faithful and remember that it is God's grace that saves us, not by our own works that we are saved.  We need to be faithful to Him and accept this gift of grace that is freely offered.  I am so grateful for this gift and accept it knowing that I am not good enough but He still offers it anyway.

EXchange your perfectionism for God's peace
I am most grateful for the peace that God offers when we simply accept Him and the gift of grace.  I feel that I can breath a sigh of relief, knowing that I can find peace in Him when I let go of my own perfectionism.  And in letting go, I do feel peace and feel that I can relax.

I know that I have been forgiven, and forgiven much.  It is when I stop and appreciate the grace and mercy extended to me that I am overcome by gratitude.  A deep gratitude that allows me to see the world through new eyes.  Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 that we are not to lose heart because although our outwardly we are wasting away, we are being renewed each day inwardly.

The Holy Spirit is at work to help us grow, being rooted and grounded in love that we may experience the fullness of His grace.  It is in these thoughts that brings me to my knees and helps me to be grateful for the gift of God's grace and how he continues to mould me each and every day.

May you feel God's goodness and grace in your life and in your journey.  May you understand the gift of His grace and allow it to touch your life so that you let your roots grow deep in Him.  That you allow Him to guide and direct your life as you understand the magnitude of his deep love and feel a deep gratitude for this gift.  And to let grace mirror the gratitude of your life.