If God's love was really important for me, I would bless my enemies If God's peace was really important for me, I would forgive my enemies If God's sacrifice was really important for me, I would serve the kingdom If God's forgiveness was really important for me, I would forgive myself If God's law was really important for me, I would put God above all, and I would love my neighbor as myself If God's power was really important for me, I would pray in truth and believe it done If God's presence was really important for me, I would flee sin and seek Him If God's wisdom was really important for me, I would fear Him and make His Word my constant nourishment If Humility was really important for me, I would give all glory to God If Christ was really important for me, I would emulate Him If the Holy Spirit was really important for me, I would see Him and marvel at God's works If Heaven was really important for me, I would never lose hope If Prayer was really important for me, I would be on my knees and believe in it's power
If Sin was really important for me, I would work tirelessly to rid of it If Satan was really important for me, I would resist him and flee If Hell was really important for me, I would live and present the way out with every breath If God's Truth was really important for me, I would seek it and apply it If God's Grace was really important for me, I would seek it and apply it
- The Grace Guy
I want God's Graces every day. But there are attitudes and habits that I have that clearly block the Graces God has in store for me. Here are the barriers (of my own making) to my prayers that the Bible exposes.
May it help remove the hindrances before I pray.
- Selfishness Jm 4:3 - Sin Is 59:1-2 - Idols Ez 14:3 - Stinginess Pr 21:13 - Unforgiveness Mk 11:25 - Wrong couple relationships 1Pt 3:7 - Doubt Jm 1:5-7
Grace. It's best when it's unblocked.
"God hath not promised skies always blue, flower strewn paths all our lives thru. God hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love." - Hymn
In the last years, my family has gone through an intense trial that ultimately became the reason I started this study on Grace.
I had the opportunity to experience Grace from others during these hardships and take a good look at my typical reactions when others were having a hard time.
On my end: - I did not learn Graceful compassion, even though I grew up in the faith - I think that saying 'I'll pray for you' is enough - I don't persevere in helping - I think it's because they did something or because they lack faith - I preach them what I think God is telling them - I think that caring too much will inconvenience them - I don't think of their needs - I suggest 'obvious-to-me' solutions
What I liked seeing in others - When they just (shut up and) listened - When they knew we couldn't supply to our needs and put themselves in our shoes, without us saying anything - When they didn't judge - When they didn't offer 'solutions' - When they persevered ... even at a high cost
Grace, it's in others' examples
Lord, how can I see you ? Beloved blind one, turn your eyes from you to me
Lord, how can I hear you ? Beloved deaf one, change your frequency and tune in to me
Lord, how can I feel you ? Beloved insensitive one, stomp on your pride and let me move you
Lord, how can I feel secure ? Beloved scared one, stop trusting yourself and give all things to me
Lord, how can I be free from sin ? Beloved bonded one, become my slave
Lord, how can I walk with you ? Beloved searching one, lose yourself, find Me and use My light
Lord, how can I love you and be filled with you ? Beloved shallow one, empty yourself and obey my commandments
Lord, how can I succeed ? Beloved poor one, meditate on Me - when you wake, when you sleep and at all times in between
Lord, how can I be at peace ? Beloved agitated one, be at war with your flesh and find your pleasures in Me
Lord, how can I be happy ? Beloved unfulfilled one, love me and follow Me
Lord, how can I find your will for me ? Beloeved lost one, live Me
Lord, how can I be a true Christian ? My precious precious child, in all things, see my Truth and my Grace : look at me, hear me, obey me, trust me, love me, meditate me, live me and follow me. Every day, become a voluntary sacrifice of your devoted life to Me
Thank you Lord The pleasure was all Mine.
- The Grace Guy
I knew the Word I knew the stories I knew the commandments but I did not really know Your Grace
I taught the Word I taught the stories I taught the commandments but I did not really know Your Grace
I served the church I served others I served the cause but I did not really know Your Grace
I looked like I had to look I did what I had to do I said what I had to say I sang what I had to sing I prayed what I had to pray I had the crowd around me but I did not really know Your Grace
I had lost everything that I thought made me great I was poor, miserable, naked, desperate, blind I could not go on I was at the end of myself And that was where I found your Grace
You showed me who I really was A Graced child, dependent on his Father And then I knew You
- The Grace Guy
Wow. This song says everything that needs to be known about Grace. The words are profound, inspiring and continuously bring tears to my eyes. Every line requires serious meditation.
At our worst, we lose everything... except for Grace.
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