"But he said to me, "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 was on the elliptical catching up on my Family Circle magazine and the news. I went to sit on the porch after my workout to read my chapter in Isaiah that I hadn't gotten to this morning. I sat staring at the sky praying. As I prayed I watched the sky turn the softest pale pink. Even though I was transfixed on the soft sky, my prayers were hard. I was praying for many things, but specifically for our world that has seemed to go into a negative tailspin as of late. As I sat, I kept hearing the word "grace" repeat over and over again in my head. I never opened my Bible. I just sat and thought about grace.
I thought about everything that is happening at home and abroad and how it relates to grace. I wondered why we are so afraid of giving and opposed to accepting grace. What keeps us from receiving grace? What keeps us from giving grace? Pride? Guilt? Anger? Skepticism? Misunderstanding? Past hurts or mistakes? Whatever it is, we have become a world that cannot freely give or receive grace. Or so it seems.
John 1:16 says, "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Grace upon grace. Think on that. Could you imagine if we gave grace upon grace to one another? What would that look like? Maybe we would see true peace if we were willing to focus on grace upon grace instead of wrong upon wrong; instead of telling each other how we should live our lives. And it doesn't just say we receive grace, no, we receive grace from His fullness. I cannot even fathom what His fullness looks and feels like in its truest sense, but I would love to receive grace upon grace from it.
God gives us grace out of His fullness. He does not withhold His grace from any of us because we sinned too much, made the worst mistake, cannot shake our addictions, because our skin color is wrong, or our house too small. No. He gives grace out of His fullness to EVERY SINGLE SOUL that comes to Him. Every single one. His grace has no boundaries; no prerequisites. Wow. I wish I could say that I have given grace to everyone who has crossed the threshold of my life; that I didn't have expectations that people had to meet before I gave grace.
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" Hebrews 4:16 I wonder what our world would look like if we went to the throne of grace in our times of need instead of to violence or judgment or thoughtlessness. Would there be less pride? Would there be less conflict? I know there are monsters out there that have one goal and that is to terrorize others. Something in their mindset keeps them from truly understanding grace or knowing that there is a higher power to go to in times of need, but what about the rest of us? What if we picked up grace instead of pride? What if we picked up grace instead of judgment? What if we picked up grace instead of that stone we are about to throw? Maybe those monsters would soften a little. Maybe.
I know grace, in our human capacity and understanding, cannot solve the world's disorders and dysfunction. But I do know that His grace is able to exceed the ends of the earth and go beyond all comprehension. I want to tap into that. I want to give and receive that type of grace. When I feel wronged, I want to give grace. I want to accept grace in my weakness and times of need.
I think some people may think grace is weak or bowing down to someone or something that is wrong. The Word says quite the opposite when it comes to grace. 2 Timothy 2:1 says, "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." We are strengthened through the grace that comes from Jesus. We are stronger through grace. I believe this is because grace unifies us. How weak are we when we are fighting and have conflict with others that goes unresolved? How weak are we when we cast stones at another? We look like fools and impact a far greater radius with negativity than I think we realize. Think of the power and strength grace holds. If we come together giving and receiving grace we are unified working together for good. We could be unstoppable.
I believe grace can happen amongst disagreement. You do not have to agree in order to give grace. Let me say that again, you do NOT have to agree to give grace. Grace says, "I love and accept you even though we do not agree on this topic." Grace says, "I want to hear you, not just listen but hear you, on this topic in which we do not agree." Grace listens and loves in the conflict. Grace is soft; soft like the pink sky God painted for me tonight. I do not think He gave me that sunset on accident. He wanted me to know grace. He wanted me to see and feel and hear and taste and smell grace at that moment. And as I watched the soft pink fade away ever so slightly, I realized that what this world needs most of all is grace.
"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you." 2 Timothy 4:22
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I was on the elliptical catching up on my Family Circle magazine and the news. I went to sit on the porch after my workout to read my chapter in Isaiah that I hadn't gotten to this morning. I sat staring at the sky praying. As I prayed I watched the sky turn the softest pale pink. Even though I was transfixed on the soft sky, my prayers were hard. I was praying for many things, but specifically for our world that has seemed to go into a negative tailspin as of late. As I sat, I kept hearing the word "grace" repeat over and over again in my head. I never opened my Bible. I just sat and thought about grace.
I thought about everything that is happening at home and abroad and how it relates to grace. I wondered why we are so afraid of giving and opposed to accepting grace. What keeps us from receiving grace? What keeps us from giving grace? Pride? Guilt? Anger? Skepticism? Misunderstanding? Past hurts or mistakes? Whatever it is, we have become a world that cannot freely give or receive grace. Or so it seems.
John 1:16 says, "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Grace upon grace. Think on that. Could you imagine if we gave grace upon grace to one another? What would that look like? Maybe we would see true peace if we were willing to focus on grace upon grace instead of wrong upon wrong; instead of telling each other how we should live our lives. And it doesn't just say we receive grace, no, we receive grace from His fullness. I cannot even fathom what His fullness looks and feels like in its truest sense, but I would love to receive grace upon grace from it.
God gives us grace out of His fullness. He does not withhold His grace from any of us because we sinned too much, made the worst mistake, cannot shake our addictions, because our skin color is wrong, or our house too small. No. He gives grace out of His fullness to EVERY SINGLE SOUL that comes to Him. Every single one. His grace has no boundaries; no prerequisites. Wow. I wish I could say that I have given grace to everyone who has crossed the threshold of my life; that I didn't have expectations that people had to meet before I gave grace.
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" Hebrews 4:16 I wonder what our world would look like if we went to the throne of grace in our times of need instead of to violence or judgment or thoughtlessness. Would there be less pride? Would there be less conflict? I know there are monsters out there that have one goal and that is to terrorize others. Something in their mindset keeps them from truly understanding grace or knowing that there is a higher power to go to in times of need, but what about the rest of us? What if we picked up grace instead of pride? What if we picked up grace instead of judgment? What if we picked up grace instead of that stone we are about to throw? Maybe those monsters would soften a little. Maybe.
I know grace, in our human capacity and understanding, cannot solve the world's disorders and dysfunction. But I do know that His grace is able to exceed the ends of the earth and go beyond all comprehension. I want to tap into that. I want to give and receive that type of grace. When I feel wronged, I want to give grace. I want to accept grace in my weakness and times of need.
I think some people may think grace is weak or bowing down to someone or something that is wrong. The Word says quite the opposite when it comes to grace. 2 Timothy 2:1 says, "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus." We are strengthened through the grace that comes from Jesus. We are stronger through grace. I believe this is because grace unifies us. How weak are we when we are fighting and have conflict with others that goes unresolved? How weak are we when we cast stones at another? We look like fools and impact a far greater radius with negativity than I think we realize. Think of the power and strength grace holds. If we come together giving and receiving grace we are unified working together for good. We could be unstoppable.
I believe grace can happen amongst disagreement. You do not have to agree in order to give grace. Let me say that again, you do NOT have to agree to give grace. Grace says, "I love and accept you even though we do not agree on this topic." Grace says, "I want to hear you, not just listen but hear you, on this topic in which we do not agree." Grace listens and loves in the conflict. Grace is soft; soft like the pink sky God painted for me tonight. I do not think He gave me that sunset on accident. He wanted me to know grace. He wanted me to see and feel and hear and taste and smell grace at that moment. And as I watched the soft pink fade away ever so slightly, I realized that what this world needs most of all is grace.
"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you." 2 Timothy 4:22
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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