In Jesus’ beautiful name,
Amen
Day 7
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
—Romans 8:28 (NASB)
If I had a top ten of favorite verses, this one would definitely sit at the number one position. As human nature dictates, we tend to embroil ourselves in difficulties. It’s more than a comfort to know the Lord has not only offered forgiveness through the blood of His Son, but He’s promised that if we repent and obey, He will rectify our troubles no matter the magnitude and make them work for good in our lives. However, when your world is still dark, laden with difficulties, and you’re still embroiled in the mess you’ve landed in, it feels as if this promise is for a far-off day. But God wants you to shine with your belief in Him. He wants you to power through the pain, put on a content countenance, shed a smile, and do good to others while we wait for Him to work out our lives.
Believe His good promises. Believe that He is who He says He is and that He will do as He promised. You show up with the faith and God will show up with the muscle. Put your faith into action. You’ve been forgiven. Don’t carry around guilt. Stop wearing it like a lead coat. God forgives you. You need to forgive yourself so you can move on with the good things the Lord has set out in front of you. You are a child of God—His own son or daughter. His love for you is far more than anyone can fathom. There is not one thing He will not do for you if it is in line with His will. You are not defined by your mistakes. You may feel like you’re at the bottom, but God has the power to shoot you into the stratosphere. Nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26).
Trust in Him. He may not be moving on our timetable, but we need to trust that He has a better one. The Word says, “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” (Proverbs 4:18 NASB)
He is not finished with you. Your future will only get brighter from here until you have reached the full light of day in His presence.
Lord, thank you for Your encouragement. Thank you that we have the ability to press through the darkest of days with the comfort of Your promises. Thank you for reassuring us that we are made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ who forgives the sins we’ve partaken in. Thank you that You care enough about us that You have good plans for us. We lean on Your ability as the Almighty, the one for whom nothing is impossible to change our circumstances according to Your will. Help us live a life that glorifies You so that we may shine brighter each day until we appear at the feet of Jesus.
In Jesus’ powerful name,
Amen
Day 8
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
—Romans 5:1-2 (NASB)
What is this grace the Bible speaks of? It is the undeserved favor of God that He bestows on all mankind. It was by this glorious extension of mercy that His love came down in the form of His Son who shed His blood for you and me. Miraculously, the Lord freely grants His grace upon His believers even today. Pouring it out in copious amounts for whatever your needs might be—spiritual, physical, material—He has all those bases covered and more. God’s grace is not something you must pay back in full. Instead, it is a free gift from our loving Father who longs to lavish us with good things. Once dispensed, God will never take back His gift of grace. It is ours to cherish forever. God gave us the ultimate gift of grace when He gave us His Son. Though not one person was worthy of the gift, He still gave freely to the sinners of the world and those sinners yet to come, namely you and me. Simply defined: grace is God’s ongoing goodness moving and working within our lives. He who created all mankind understood the need for His unwavering, undeserved, much-needed grace. And He is the same one who gives liberally to all who need it.
When my life bottomed out, I had only understood marginally what was meant by grace. I figured it had something to do with God’s mercy—a kindness that was part of His nature—but what I didn’t understand was the magnitude of this remarkable gift that was mine to take freely, dispensed daily if needed, this amazing provision reserved for us without merit. God was willing to meet more than my needs. He was willing to exceed them with the kindness of His character. Grace offers spiritual growth. It wraps God’s arms around you tight and helps you grow in your closeness with Him. It meets our every need and delivers us in supernatural ways that the natural world could never afford.
God’s grace is not some footnote, something to be marginalized in the grand scheme of our journey of intimacy with Him. It is the bright shining star that shed the light of salvation upon us. It is His grace that sent Jesus to earth. It is His grace that fills us with His Holy Spirit so that we are never alone, never without Him. It was His grace that ripped the veil through the power of Christ’s blood. And it is His grace that we need to survive another day. God gives freely to all who ask.
So ask.
Lord, thank
