Grace

August 20th – Psalm 47:1

Psalm 47:1

It’s easy to remember God when we need something. To come to Him with our requests, our worries, and our problems. And when He answers to thank Him. But God is worthy of our praise long before the answer comes.

We should praise Him simply because He is God. He is good, faithful, holy, merciful, and worthy of every breath we take. Even on the difficult days, we still have countless reasons to praise Him. We have been forgiven and redeemed. We have been called His own. And we have the incredible privilege of knowing the King of kings and Lord of lords. Not from a distance, but as our loving Father who invites us into relationship with Him.

Think about that for a moment. The God who created the heavens and the earth chose you. He knows your name, sees your life, hears your prayers, and loves you more deeply than you can comprehend. What an extraordinary reason to rejoice!

So let our praise become more than a response to answered prayers. Let it become a way of life. Praise Him when you’re celebrating and praise Him when you’re struggling. Praise Him when you understand and praise Him when you don’t. And praise Him with your words, actions, attitude, and with every breath He gives you. We don’t praise God because life is always good. We praise Him because He is always good.

August 20th – Psalm 47:1 Read More »

August 17th – Micah 7:8

Micah 7:8

We live in a world of keyboard warriors. Where people can hide behind a screen and say things they’d  probably never have the courage to say face-to-face. It seems like people are quicker than ever to tear one another down, expose failures, mock weaknesses, and sometimes even delight when someone else is hurting. And the nastier, the more attention they seem to receive.

But as followers of Jesus, we are called to live differently. Micah 7:8 says, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” What a beautiful reminder for anyone who has ever stumbled, failed, or found themselves in a dark season. Because we all fall.

Sometimes we fall because of our own mistakes. Sometimes we fall because someone hurt us. Or sometimes we simply find ourselves walking through circumstances we never expected. And when we fall, there will always be people who are eager to point it out. Those who love to remind us of our past, celebrate our failures, and assume that our worst moment is the whole story. But they don’t get to decide how our story ends. Jesus does.

When we fall, Jesus doesn’t stand over us in condemnation. He reaches down His hand and calls us to get back up. He doesn’t waste our failures. He can redeem our broken places, use our pain for His purpose, and turn the very things others tried to use against us into a testimony of His grace.

So if you’re sitting in a place of darkness today, take heart. Your darkness doesn’t  mean God has abandoned you. Your failure doesn’t mean you’re finished. And your past doesn’t have the final word. The Lord is still your light.

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August 12th – Galatians 5:4

Galatians 5:4

Religion makes us follow a long list of rules. And it tells us we have to try to prove that we’re good enough for God. But none of us could ever keep enough rules, do enough good things, or live a perfect enough life to earn our salvation. If we could save ourselves through our own efforts, we would never would have need of a Savior.

The truth is, we don’t have to work our way to God because Jesus made the way for us. His blood paid a price we could never pay, and His finished work is enough. Salvation isn’t something we can earn. Instead, it’s a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus isn’t about checking off a list of religious requirements. It’s about having a personal relationship with the One who loved us enough to lay down His life for us. And it’s about receiving His grace, trusting His sacrifice, and understanding that the work of salvation has already been accomplished through His shed blood on the Cross.

And grace doesn’t mean that how we live doesn’t matter. Quite the opposite. When we truly understand how much Jesus has forgiven us and how freely He has loved us, our hearts should desire to follow Him. We obey not because we are trying to earn His love, but because we already have it.

There is such freedom in that truth. We can stop striving, stop comparing ourselves, and stop trying to prove that we’re worthy. So today rest in the finished work of Christ. Your salvation isn’t dependent on how perfectly you perform. It rests on the perfect Savior who gave everything for you.

August 12th – Galatians 5:4 Read More »

August 4th – Jeremiah 17:14

Jeremiah 17:14

There are moments in life when we realize there is nothing we can do to fix what’s broken. And it’s in those moments, we’re reminded that our greatest need isn’t another plan or another solution. We need God.

Jeremiah knew that true healing could only come from the Lord. He wasn’t placing his hope in himself or in the things of this world. He was trusting the Great Physician. The One whose power has no limits and whose love never fails.

Sometimes God heals our bodies. Sometimes He heals our hearts. And sometimes His healing comes by giving us the strength, peace, and grace to walk through the valley until we reach the other side. However He chooses to work, His healing is always perfect because it flows from His wisdom and His unfailing love.

If your heart is heavy today, don’t carry your burdens alone. Bring them to Jesus. Pour out every fear, tear, disappointment, and unanswered question before Him. Our Heavenly Father is always ready to receive those who earnestly seek Him. He sees your pain, He hears your prayers, and He has not forgotten you.

Whatever you are facing today, take heart. The same God who hears your cries is the God who still heals, still restores, still saves, and still works miracles in the lives of His children. Keep your eyes on Him, for He is your hope, your strength, and your healer.

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July 29th – 2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18

We live in a world that encourages us to grow in almost everything. To grow in our careers, finances, appearance, social media following, and our achievements. While there’s nothing wrong with growing in those areas, God reminds us that the most important growth is spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one day at a time as we spend time in God’s Word, talk with Him in prayer, obey His voice, and trust Him through life’s joys and struggles. Every trial teaches us to depend on Him a little more. Every answered prayer strengthens our faith. And every time we choose forgiveness, humility, or love over selfishness, we become a little more like Jesus.

Growing in grace also means extending to others the same patience, mercy, and forgiveness that God has shown us. And growing in the knowledge of Christ means more than just reading about Him. It means knowing Him personally, walking with Him daily, and allowing Him to transform our hearts.

No matter how long you’ve followed Jesus, there is always more to learn, more to surrender, and more of His love to experience. So don’t become comfortable where you are. Keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and keep growing. The closer we draw to Jesus, the more our lives will reflect His beauty, His grace, and His love to a world that desperately needs Him.

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July 20th – Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1

We all fail, stumble, and fall short at times. Every one of us has weaknesses, and none of us is immune to temptation. Yet when we see someone else struggling, it’s easy to look at their sin and feel disappointed, frustrated, or even superior. But God’s Word reminds us that we are not called to stand above those who have fallen. Instead, we are called to help restore them.

Galatians 6:1 tells us to restore those who have fallen with gentleness. Because restoration isn’t about shaming or condemning someone. It’s about helping them find their way back to the Lord and the freedom found in His grace. But as we help others we must also watch ourselves, remembering that we too are capable of falling.

We should never approach someone else’s weakness with pride, but with humility, compassion, and an awareness of our own need for God’s mercy. We are all sinners saved by grace, and we all need forgiveness and restoration.

So may we be quick to extend grace, slow to judge, and willing to speak truth with love. And when  someone falls, may we not push them further away from Christ, but gently point them back to Him. Because the goal is never to prove we are better than someone else. The goal is to help one another keep our eyes on Jesus.


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July 14th – Ephesians 4:31

Ephesians 4:31

It doesn’t take long to see that our world has grown harsher. A quick look at social media or the comments section of almost any post reveals how easily people tear one another down. Behind a screen it’s easy to become a keyboard warrior, speaking words that wound instead of heal.

But God calls His children to live differently. He tells us to put away bitterness, anger, harsh words, and malice because they have no place in a heart that belongs to Christ. In a world that is becoming increasingly mean, Christians should be known for their kindness, gentleness, and grace.

That doesn’t mean people will always treat us well. In fact, they may not. But our response should never be determined by how others treat us. It should be shaped by how Jesus has treated us. He has shown us mercy when we didn’t deserve it, forgiveness when we failed, and love that never gives up.

As these last days grow darker, may we be bright lights for Christ. May our words encourage instead of condemn, build up instead of tear down, and point others to the love of Jesus. The world has enough anger. Let’s be known for grace.

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July 6th – Psalm 118:24

Psalm 118:24

Some days are harder than others. There are mornings when we wake up already carrying yesterday’s worries, and there are days that don’t go anything like we hoped they would. Life has a way of reminding us that not every day is easy, and not every day feels like a good one.

But Psalm 118:24 gently tells us that every day is still a gift from God. The fact that we opened our eyes this morning is evidence of His mercy. Every sunrise is another opportunity to start over, to leave yesterday behind, to make things right, to grow in our faith, and to become a little more like Christ.

I’m so thankful that God doesn’t expect perfection from me. He simply invites me to keep walking with Him. His mercies are new every morning, and His grace is always enough for whatever this day may bring.

We may not be able to choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them. We can choose gratitude instead of complaining, hope instead of discouragement, and trust instead of fear. Some days those choices are easier than others, but God faithfully walks beside us through them all.

So today, whether this day brings joy or challenges, thank God for the gift of another beginning. Every new day is another chance to get it right, another chance to love well, and another chance to experience His goodness and mercy. And that alone is reason to rejoice.

 

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July 3rd – Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is the difference between condemnation and conviction. For years, I thought they were the same thing. Every time I messed up, I would carry guilt for days, wondering if God was disappointed with me. But Romans 8:1 reminds us that “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. It gently points out our sin, leads us to repentance, and draws us back into God’s loving arms. It says, “Come back to Me.” Condemnation, on the other hand, comes from the Enemy. It whispers, “You’ll never change. God is tired of you. You’re a failure.” One leads us to Jesus. The other tries to drive us away from Him.

The beautiful truth is that when we confess our sins, God forgives us completely. He doesn’t ask us to keep carrying the guilt after He’s already taken it away. We can learn from our mistakes without living under the weight of them.

So the next time you fail, and we all do, listen carefully to the voice you’re hearing. If it’s calling you back to Jesus, that’s conviction. If it’s telling you you’re beyond His grace, that’s condemnation. And because of Christ, condemnation no longer has the final word over your life.


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June 27th – Lamentations 3:22-23

Lamentations 3:22-23

If I’m being honest, I have to admit there isn’t a single day where I don’t mess up. I say things I wish I hadn’t said. I have attitudes I need to surrender. And many times I fall short of the person God is calling me to be.

Becoming a Christian didn’t suddenly make me perfect. It simply made me aware of how much I need a perfect Savior. The Bible tells us that none of us are righteous. Not even one. And left to ourselves, we all miss the mark.

That’s why I love the promise in Lamentations 3. Every morning, God’s mercies are new. Every sunrise is another reminder that He hasn’t given up on me. Every day is another opportunity to confess my sins, turn back to Him, and start again. God doesn’t keep a record of every failure when we come to Him with a humble and repentant heart. He is faithful to forgive, to cleanse, and to extend grace that I could never earn.

I’m so thankful that my relationship with God isn’t built on my perfection but on His mercy. If it depended on me getting everything right, I’d fail every single time. But because of Jesus, I don’t have to live in yesterday’s mistakes. I can leave them at the foot of the cross, receive His forgiveness, and walk into a new day knowing His mercy is waiting for me once again. Great is His faithfulness.

June 27th – Lamentations 3:22-23 Read More »