Finding Grace
The new year has brought so many new things to my plate. These new things keep me busy with books to read, bible studies to complete, scripture to memorize, biographies to write and a full schedule of meeting times. I am in complete awe of the things that God has brought into my life recently. These groups and opportunities have literally fallen into my lap and it excites me to no end to see what is in store over the next few months.
Last night at my ladies small group meeting we discussed Grace. I have used, written and seen this word millions of time in my life. Up until last night though, I don’t think I ever fully understood what exactly it meant. We discussed how Gods grace is all around us and that we just have to train our eyes to see it. I immediately thought of the amazing sunrise that meets me every morning on my commute to work. Of course I see it as beautiful, and I am thankful for the view during an otherwise boring drive up 285. But, that same sunrise takes on a whole new appearance when we choose to see it as a God thing! The same can be said for the warm weather that greeted me this afternoon and the wind against my face coming in from my rolled down window. For the friends that I spent the weekend with, for the warm bed that I will sleep in tonight. It all takes on a different look, and different feeling. Grace is easily defined as repentance and forgiveness…. but it is so much more. I think my heart grew two sizes last night with this realization.
Over the last 21 days, I have given up sweets, Starbucks and a few other frivolous foods as my church took it upon ourselves to really, really pray. We had 300,000 people in mind as we spoke to God about the daunting task of reaching so many un-churched neighbors. I quickly leaned that the praying was the easy part. It was the listening that was more of a challenge. The lesson of looking for God’s grace in our surroundings can also be used to teach us how to be still and quiet long enough to hear what He has to say. We challenged ourselves last night to make a date with God. To find a chunk of time when we turn off the cell phone, turn off the radio, turn off the TV, and just be. Scary concept. Amazingly powerful opportunity.
Only when we learn to live in the grace of the Father’s house can we become like Him. When our hands are filled with His blessings, we are able to relax our grip on our sinful pursuits of fulfillment, our prideful competitiveness, our inner complaints.