Christian Living

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There are a few people that God has chosen by his grace.6 And if he chose them by grace, it is not for the things they have done. If they could be made God's people by what they did, God's gift of grace would not really be a gift. {Romans 11:5-6 NCV}


Lately, I can't seem to shake that persistent feeling of unworthiness. It just seems like nothing about me is good enough. My work, my service, my attitude...heck, I'm feeling deficient in every area from my sense of style to my spiritual life!

Over the past month, I can't recall how many times I've asked the Lord, Why? Why are You doing this? I'm a complete mess; a failure. I've been un-empathetic, unkind, a terrible example, a bad steward, I haven't completed anything You've asked me to do, the garage is a mess, the floors need to be mopped, my son is lonely, my husband is hungry, I complain about everything, I shop uncontrollably and my hair looks like a down pillow exploded. Why God? Why are You taking care of me so well? I don't deserve anything from You.

Well, if nothing else, at least I've got that right: I don't deserve anything from God! None of us do. But as I was reminded in church this weekend, that's the beauty of GRACE......

grace: noun - (Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. {John 1:16}

This weekend, the pastor challenged us to "stop trying to measure up" - and that's when I realized my problem. I've been so focused on "doing rather than being" that when things didn't turn out as planned, I felt like I failed Him. I was convicted when the Holy Spirit shined a light in a dark area caused by my nonacceptance of His grace....."How can you extend grace to others when you do not freely take the grace I offer you? You've set that same unreachable standard for others as you have for yourself. Perhaps this explains why some of your relationships are in need of mending!" BUT in His mercy, God overlooks my faults and is pleased just because of my heart's intention.....and I intend to intentionally give AND receive grace in LARGE doses from now on!

God's grace woke me up this morning, keeps food on our table and a roof over our heads, it's kept me in good health, blessed me with a beautiful family and wonderful friends. Grace has imparted Godly wisdom and bestowed me with the love and protection of my Savior Jesus Christ. GRACE ALONE.

There's nothing you or I can do to influence God's grace one way or another. Accomplishing much for the glory of the Lord will not earn us more and likewise, our failure, insecurity, insufficiency and mere feelings of defeat and despair cannot take away the grace God has stored up for us in abundance.

Thank God His love and care doesn't depend on us!

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. {Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT}

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