Grace

September 15, 2022

From Jackie Payne

As I’ve been reading through the Bible this year, I’ve really been able to grasp the Israelite’s story better, realizing how the kings and prophets are interconnected and how God’s plan took place. It’s been eye-opening to see God’s grace extended time and time again when they certainly didn’t deserve it. The same can be said for you and me.

Each morning as I pray with our kids on the way to school, I try and make a point to include asking for grace for ourselves and grace for others. For ourselves, we can get hung up on our mistakes (past or present), social awkwardness (“Why, why, why did I say that?!”) or how we are handling our current set

of circumstances. For others, it’s easy to think the worst of people and not to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, making everything about us and how this other person hurt/inconvenienced/hindered us.

So we pray for grace each day on the way to school, that we are gentler with ourselves and the people we interact with throughout the day. After all, we have been given the gift of grace through Jesus. Why is it so hard for us to extend that gift?

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7

By the power of the Holy Spirit, may you be able to be grace-filled today and gentle with yourselves and those around you. We all could use that!