Category: Grace

Unstable, No Wisdom

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I often quote James 1:5. God has taught me much about prayer, so I have no trouble asking God. I love that He gives “generously to all without reproach”. However, I get a bit stuck at verse 6. I must ask without doubting.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:6-8

I fear that I will mess up God’s wisdom and make some kind of mistake. With that attitude I “must not suppose that I will receive anything from the Lord.” That alone is pretty depressing. However, Matthew 17:30 tells me that I only need faith the size of a mustard seed. The size of my faith isn’t the important part. Trusting that God will keep His promise is the key.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for always keeping Your promises. Please remove my doubt so I can be strengthened by Your wisdom.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Fear and Shame

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The last three weeks I have had to fight fear over a “lump” that I found. This felt similar to what I had 2 ½ years ago. I had visions of surgery and potentially other treatment. As I made diagnostic appointments (and waited about 1 ½ weeks to go to the appointments), I chose this verse. There is worry involved in medical issues. I had to pray my way through allowing God whatever He chose.

Praise the Lord, he allowed me to only have 2 cysts and a non-malignant spot. No surgery or medical treatment needed. I am grateful for God’s kindness in allowing this news.

I have prayed many times in recent years that I am willing and able to endure whatever God asks of me. I was wrestling with that prayer before finding out the prognosis. I appreciate these verses. Seeking God helps deliver us from our fears. I know that I can feel shame as I wrestle with my fears – verse 5 reminds us that we can be radiant and unashamed as we look to God.

The simple reminder is to seek God and I can be delivered. The difficult reality is that I need to keep working hard to give my fears and worries to God and leave them there. I am glad God is patient and kind in providing for my weakness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for closing this chapter in health issues. Please help me to continue to give all of my fears to You. Please help me to encourage others to do the same.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Ability through Grace

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Part of our identity as believers of Jesus Christ is good works. Doing good works on our own is exhausting and frankly, not possible for long. God gives us the means to “abound in every good work.” That is only possible through His grace. As I study God’s Word and seek to live it, I learn more about how God’s grace works. This is a life long pursuit.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to focus on Your grace. I want to live the sufficiency that brings. Thank You for providing.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Anxiety and Humility

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Our anxieties are often a part of our identity.  We can feel humiliated by them.  However, 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us that we need to “humble ourselves” and “cast our anxieties on God”.  According to Thomas Constable, Peter is encouraging the believers to submit to God’s hand in their suffering.  God uses difficulties to perfect us.

In the United States, we don’t experience suffering the way New Testament believers did under Nero.  Stories of what Nero did to Christians are terrible.  While we don’t face extreme persecution, we still have troubles in life.  This passage applies to us today just as much as in Peter’s day.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can cast our anxieties on You.  We need Your care in trials.  Please help us to humble ourselves under Your power until “the proper time.”  We need You now.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Exceedingly Abundant

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Ephesians 3:20 can give us goosebumps as we think of all the happy things God can do.  However, as I look at the context – one of spiritual growth and maturity – my mind goes down a different path.  I believe the Christian life can bring much joy, but there is sorrow as well.  The difficult things often bring about the most spiritual growth.   So, what is the exceeding abundance?  I believe 2 Corinthians 9:8 gives us the answer. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”  God’s grace brings the abundance that He wants.  Abundance for every good work.

I fear we come to verses like Ephesians 3:20 with selfish thoughts.  Selfishness is often a part of our identity.  We need to give our own desires to God and He will give us His grace for abundant good works.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundance You provide.  Please help me to see the ways You want to change my identity from self-centeredness to grace filled good works.  Please strengthen me for the tasks ahead. I give You praise for all You do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Work and Rest

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Philippians 2:12-13 has a seeming contradiction.  Verse 12 tells us to work out our own salvation, but verse 13 says that God is at work.  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that our salvation is not of our own works so we won’t brag.  James 2:14-26 tells us that works need to follow our faith in God.  I think this passage combines those two concepts.  There are works that I need to do to honor God. 

I fear that we sometimes get too stuck on one side of that equation or the other.  Either we look too much to ourselves to work or we assume too little responsibility.  I like to think that God does the heavy lifting.  He is responsible to provide what is needed for me to work out my salvation.  He provided the way for my salvation.  I need to obey what God tells me to do.  I find that out from spending time in the Bible and time talking to God.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to see the difference between the work You have given me to do and what You promise to take care of.  I want to live a life of appropriate responsibility, resting in what You will do.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Despite Our Sin

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Ephesians 2 starts out bleak.  It talks about how believers in Christ used to be dead in sin.  I’m thankful for verses 4-5 that talk about the amazing mercy of God.  Despite our sin, God provided a way through Jesus to give us life.  Now all we need to do is remember this truth as we live day to day life.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace.  Please help me to remember this truth and share this with others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Feast or Famine

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I think as Americans we are used to having so much we don’t understand what “the riches of His grace” being lavished on us means.  There are times when according to our definition, we go through famine.  Material wise that might be true.  This passage tells us of the lavish grace that gives us forgiveness.  I wonder if we realize how big God’s forgiveness is.  He doesn’t owe us forgiveness, but He gives freely and generously – a feast. 

I am so thankful for God’s generosity.  I will receive His forgiveness every time I ask (1 John 1:9).

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for lavishing forgiveness on those You have chosen. I am comforted by Your generosity.  Please help me to keep the proper perspective on Your generous forgiveness.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

It’s NOT About Me

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Ephesians 1 tells us of wonderful gifts that God has given to those he has chosen.  I think we sometimes become selfish as a result of these gifts.  The point of the gifts is to point back to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to use the gifts You have given to point others to You.  May You be honored because of Your glorious grace. 

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Chosen for Adoption

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The first blessing we see in Ephesians 1 is that of being chosen for adoption.  Looking at the culture in Israel during Bible times adoption is a great honor.  The first-born son would inherit everything.  God adopts us as first-born sons.  I’m not sure how well it translates into the American culture that I know so well.  In Bible culture this was a very high honor.  I want to allow that concept to warm my heart living in what is often a cold, dark (sin-cursed) world.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me to be an adopted child.  Thank You for the beauty of Your love.  Please help me to share this with those who know You chose them as well as those who have not learned of this wonderful gift.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.