Why do you think St. Paul began his letters with, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus”? Because we need grace! I need it every day, and many times throughout my day. But many Christians do not know what grace is, recognize it when it comes, or realize it is something they can ask for.
What is grace?
Grace is something far more than a theological concept or an abstract quality that most of us were taught. Grace is something you can experience. Bible scholars explain that grace is an influx of divine power that acts upon the heart. It is something dynamic and active; it has movement. We can recognize it when it moves into our heart and life, and influences us in that moment.
I thank God for grace. I may not feel like doing something I need to do, but when I turn to God and ask for His grace, something shifts inside me and I can do it. I like that!
Do you want to be victorious?
One of my favorite scriptures talks about receiving an abundance of grace and what it will do for us:
Those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
In his work as a psychiatrist, Dr. M. Scott Peck recognized the existence of this powerful force originating outside of human consciousness which nurtures the spiritual growth of human beings. Throughout history, we have called this force grace.
Even though it is something miraculous and amazing, Peck says, he found that some patients rejected it. They preferred to keep their ugly feelings and destructive thoughts. They didn’t want to give them up.
“Amazing Grace”
John Newton, the former captain of a slave ship, cried out to God during a violent storm, “Lord, have mercy on us.” Later as he reflected on his experience, he believed God had touched him with grace. Read again some words from Amazing Grace and let your heart be lifted up:
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
Good news for today
The work of Jesus Christ has opened the door way for you to go the throne of God’s grace when you need it.
Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
With sin and evil increasing all around us, we need to go to God and ask for more grace.
Dear Judith, I’m travelling and have slept badly in a foreign place, woke with a headache and an empty stomach- breakfast isn’t offered until a couple of hours but I decided to look into my phone for connection- to find something to remind me of God and then I read your blog and the message about grace! And that message carried its own grace ! So just reading about grace has brought me some grace – I am so grateful- thank you Judith
I knew the Holy Spirit wanted me to write it for someone!
Thank you for the good message, I wish I could have it in pdf form so I can read over and over.
Thank you very much for your words . They give me grace .
Thank you Judith for this timely and blessed and healing message of grace. What my heart needed to hear. What especially resonated was the line in Pastor Newton’s hymn “ It was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved”.
In all the countless times I’ve sung this song the words didn’t hit me the way they did today. It is God’s grace that calms our fears. It is only God we need fear and that fear is meant to lead us into the safety of His tender embrace.
Bless you!