A Cry for God's Grace (Psalm 6:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 6:1-3

Some psalms offer comfort and peace, and others, like today's verses, well ... not so much. However, these verses are often true for me ... and perhaps for you as well.

One of the many things I love about the psalms is their sometimes raw honesty. The psalmists never hesitated to bare their hearts to God. It gives me the confidence that I can cry out to Him when I'm suffering or in pain.

You can too.

Are you feeling weak and incapable? Cry out for His mercy.

Are you in pain or dealing with physical issues? Cry out for His healing (and if, as in my case, the answer for healing appears to be "no," cry out for peace and comfort in the pain).

Are you confused and unsure? Don't be afraid to share with Him how "troubled" your soul is.

Are you wondering if your current storm will ever end? Ask Him "How long?"

God may not answer your prayer for healing today. He may not reveal to you exactly what His plan is for the foreseeable future. He may not tell you exactly why things are happening the way they are.

But one thing I do know: If you cry out to Him, He will hear you. He will give you peace even in times of pain and uncertainty. He will offer you grace and mercy. He will walk beside you through dark valleys—and carry you when the road gets especially rough.

Cry out to Him. Then feel His arms of love around you. He's there ... if you only cry out to Him.

Justified Freely by His Grace (Romans 3:23-24)

Today’s scripture: Romans 3:23-24

It continually amazes me that grace is a free gift … a free gift. Even though, as Paul wrote, “all have sinned” (and that does mean all, by the way), every single person can be “justified freely by His grace.”

Later in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death [what we do deserve], but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord [what we do not deserve]” (NASB, 6:23).

That’s grace.

We are “freely justified,” which means we are righteous in God’s eyes. Once we accept forgiveness of sins through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, He no longer sees our sins. Jesus has paid our “wages,” and we are gifted with eternal life with our Lord and Savior.

How amazing is that?  

Encouraging Grace (Acts 11:23)

Today’s scripture: Acts 11:23

You’d think I’d be tired of writing about grace … but you’d be wrong!

I’m continually awed by the thought that our all-powerful, all-loving God loves us so much that He offers grace. Grace for salvation. Grace for daily life.

Today’s verse comes just after Peter spoke about God’s grace to the Gentiles and those in the early church heard of how a “great number believed and turned to the Lord” in Antioch. Barnabas went to Antioch, and he saw the “grace of God.”

Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly say this, I imagine Barnabas was greatly encouraged by the number of new believers. It does say, however, that he “was glad, and encouraged them all with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”

This is how the church (i.e., the body of Christ) should be today. We should be “glad” when we meet new believers; we should rejoice with new members of the “family.”

And we who have been following the Lord for a while should encourage them in their faith. We should teach and disciple them. We should pray for them and with them.

We should celebrate the grace of God.

Amazing, Abounding Grace (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:8

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found.
Was blind, but now I see.”

I love that old hymn. Perhaps, you do too.

Grace is such an amazing gift … that our God would give us what we don’t deserve … amazing.

And grace continues to abound throughout the life of a Christ-follower. When a person surrenders her life to God and accepts the gift of salvation, she will be used by Him to do “good work.”

Each follower of Christ is given at least one spiritual gift. Teaching or hospitality. Giving or mercy.

I’m blessed with the gifts of encouragement and teaching. I love seeing others grow in faith and learn more about the Lord God Almighty. It brings me such joy.

Because of the weakness of my body, however, I don’t always feel “sufficient” to do what God’s called me to do. But, praise Him, I don’t have to be sufficient … He is sufficient, and, through His abundance grace, I’m able to do those “good works.”

Amazing grace, indeed!

Full of Grace and Truth (John 1:14)

Today’s scripture: John 1:14

It’s a mystery beyond human comprehension. God, who created the universe with a word, chose to come to earth and take human form.

He chose to walk among those He Himself created.

He chose to experience what we do: weariness, pain … betrayal and rejection.

He knew He would … and He did it anyway.

For flawed, fleshly us. For those who accept Him … and for those who don’t.

I don’t understand it. I honestly don’t. If I were Him (and we can all be really happy I’m not!), I would have had a much different plan. Certainly, not one where I’d sacrifice myself for … well, for someone like me.

But that’s grace. That’s how much He loves us. Even knowing who we’d be, our God—“full of grace and truth”—came to earth … for us.

It’s a mystery …

Grace and Glory (Psalm 84:11)

Today’s scripture: Psalm 84:11

Today’s scripture reminded me of a play I was in last year called Grace and Glorie. I played a character called Gloria (aka Glorie), a New York professional reluctantly transplanted in rural West Virginia. She becomes the care-taker of a crotchety 90-year-old hospice patient.

By the end, these two completely different women become friends—even family. The play is about the love that grows between them. It’s about the grace they offer to each other.

In a much bigger way, our Father loves to lavish grace upon His children. He finds joy in our joy.

He sees beyond our barriers, our fears, our pain, and He loves us unconditionally. He provides for our needs. He protects us from danger—or carries us through.

Today’s verse says He withholds “no good thing.” And He doesn’t. We may not get everything we ask for, but we do get good things. And the greatest is grace.

Grace for His glory.

Perfected Grace (1 Peter 5:10)

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 5:10

Oh that word … “perfect.”

We all know—or we should know—that we are not perfect. Far from it. Only one Person who walked this earth was perfect: Jesus Christ. And He is God, so of course He’s perfect.

So how can we be “perfected”?

We become “perfected” here on earth by becoming more and more like Christ as we grow in Him. God—the “God of all grace”—is working in and through all of us who call ourselves by the name of His Son.

He molds us, refines us, encourages us, and guides us, and as we become more like Christ, we are “perfected.”

While we will never reach perfection this side of heaven, we can be “perfected.” We just need to devote our lives to the “God of all grace.”

Grace for Grace (John 1:16)

Today’s scripture: John 1:16

Before I delve into today’s scripture, I wanted to let you know that I’m adjusting the frequency of these devotionals. I began this devotional blog 11 years ago as a resource for my speaking my ministry. As I transition into a new season and speak less often, I still feel led to write, but not quite as often. So, I’ll be posting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the immediate future. Please feel free to review past posts, and I look forward to “meeting” with you three days each week.

Now … onto today’s devotional:

 “… we have all received … grace for grace.”

While I have my “go to” translations of the Bible (usually New American Standard Bible, New King James Version, or New International Version), I often like how some of the paraphrases (like The Message, the Contemporary English Version, or the New Living Translation) render God’s words.

For example, “grace for grace” is:

“undeserved kindness and truth” (CEV)

“unfailing love and faithfulness” (NLT)

These are all gifts by grace.

We are loved by our Savior who gives us kindness and everlasting love, who is faithful, and who blesses us with His truth.

Grace for grace … or, as I would paraphrase, grace upon grace.

Revel in the grace you’re so freely offered … today and every day.

Testify to the Gospel of Grace (Acts 20:24)

Today’s scripture: Acts 20:24

I’ve probably written about this before, but if you had the cure for cancer, wouldn’t you go to everyone who needed this cure? Wouldn’t you share this “good news” everywhere and anywhere?

Grace is the cure for sin. It is the ultimate good news!

So why do we hoard this truth? Why do we keep it to ourselves? Why do we fail to share it with those who need it (which, by the way, is everyone!)?

Grace is … well, amazing! Grace offers salvation and ensures eternity with God. Grace assures us of daily strength and provision. Grace showers us with blessings.

Those of us who have been super-abundantly blessed by grace should be eager to “testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Joyfully, we should share the truth of salvation.

With whom can you “testify to the gospel of the grace of God”? Who needs to hear that “good news”?

Saving Grace (Acts 15:11)

Today’s scripture: Acts 15:11

We are unworthy of grace. We really are.

We are born sinful, and, without grace, we deserve to die in our sins.

But again, grace isn’t about what we deserve. It’s about what our loving God chooses to do in spite of our unworthiness. It’s about how the Creator of all things, Sovereign God, looks upon His created beings and says, “I want to be in relationship with you; I want to be in fellowship with you.”

And even though we really don’t deserve it, that’s exactly what we can have when we ask for forgiveness and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ.

We are saved through grace, and we—the created—are in relationship with God—the Creator.

It’s mind-blowing and awe-inspiring that we are loved that much.

Are you in awe of what the Creator has done for you? Sit in silence for a moment and just meditate on grace. God’s grace for you.

Grace in God's Sight (Exodus 33:12-13)

Today’s scripture: Exodus 33:12-13

We who follow Christ today are so blessed! As we just discussed, grace is unmerited favor, and God loves to shower His children with abundant, amazing grace.

In Moses’ time, “grace” was something to be regularly sought. Covering of sin came through sacrifice … and it was only temporary.

Today, we can be assured of salvation, once and for all! Grace is given to us … once and for all. When God looks at those of us who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, He doesn’t see the flaws or foibles; rather, He sees purity. He sees dearly-loved children.

We can be assured that, once we have accepted the gift of salvation through acceptance of and belief in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will find grace in God’s sight.

Once and for all!

Today, thank God for His grace that is yours. Thank Jesus Christ for His gift of salvation through grace.