Day 34 – Grace Greater

Brother Lawrence said that “we must ask him for his grace with full confidence, paying no attention to our thoughts, relying on the infinite merits of Our Lord. God, at every opportunity, always bestows his grace.”

Once I complied a list of definitions of all the various ways “grace” was understood. Bottom line: I need God’s grace.

I need God’s love and mercy and kindness extended to me, which I receive by faith.

I needed God’s saving grace: In coming to faith in Christ as my Savior. My sins forgiven. My guilt removed. My shame blotted out. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

God’s grace is greater than all my sin.

I need God’s enabling grace: In overcoming temptation. Making the right spiritual or moral choice. Avoiding an evil or sin. Loving someone in spite of being hurt by them. Meeting a particular need. Handling a difficult situation. Carrying out a particular action.

God’s grace is greater than all my challenges.

I need God’s empowering grace: In directing me to serve. Strengthening me to do what he wants. Making me wise. Endowing me with gifts. Performing special activities. Making me skillful and effective. Helping me share Christ. Using me in serving others.

God’s grace is greater than all my needs.

Just as sunlight provides the ability for plants to grow, God’s amazing grace supplies me the ability to be and do all God wants. It’s so generous, free, unexpected, and undeserved.

Brother Lawrence continually leaned, not upon himself, but upon God’s grace made available through Christ’s death on the cross.

Thus he could, and we can, “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16),

Action Step: Look to Jesus and lean upon his grace to do what God wants.

This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave