Abide in His Grace

Life is filled with wonderful things we can enjoy. 

Things such as people we love, hobbies that inspire, and serene nature that allows us to think about the goodness and grace of God.

However, our lives are also packed with endless to-do lists, demands of our workplaces, and bills that keep coming every month. And if we aren’t intentional in our reliance on God, these things can lead to burnout.

We Need His Grace

I have been blessed to be the First Lady of my church. However, with that blessing also comes great responsibility and strategic planning. 

Recently, our church held a weekend-long event, and in the days prior, I began to feel the stress of it all. I remember having one of those days that wasn’t necessarily a bad day, but it wasn’t peaceful either. My plate was full! 

As I was preparing and tying up loose ends for the weekend, God gently reminded me just how much I needed His grace.

“So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.”

- Hebrews 4:16, TPT

The Father, our Grace-giver, invites us into this space in the mundane and the important. It is for yesterday, today, and the days to come.

What Is God’s Grace?

What comes to mind when you think of God’s grace?

For me, it is His goodwill toward me. It is in the relationships He has given, the resources He has provided, and the unmerited favor He pours upon me through His Son, Jesus.

God’s grace encompasses compassion, love, kindness, and forgiveness.

His grace is our strength when we can’t take another step and the encouragement we need when our soul is downtrodden.

And as His daughters, we are invited into the throne room of grace whenever we need Him – which is all the time!

How To Receive Grace

Receiving God’s grace is an act of surrender. It is acknowledging that we can’t live without Him, and we need His power, mercy, and love to help us withstand all that life throws at us.

However, to receive God’s grace in anything, we must humble ourselves first.

1 Peter 5:5b, TPT says, “In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.”

In every relationship, we must take on the role of a humble servant. 

Yes, that means in your marriage, parenting, friendships, and even how you relate to those who are not so lovable in your workplaces, neighborhood markets, and the world.

That can be hard, can’t it?

But here is the good news; as we endure complicated relationships and interactions with humility, God promises to bestow grace unto us. 

And when we come to Him with humble hearts, He will move on our behalf.

How Do You Humble Yourself Before God?

What are some practical ways we can move our hearts toward God in humility?

Listen

Humility requires us to shut our mouths so we can listen. With people, it allows us to learn from their side of the story, and with God, it allows us to be transformed in the image of His Son.

When we meet with Him in the quiet place, surrendering our ears and hearts, we make room for God to speak His truth over us. This is where life change begins, and the realization is made that we need His grace every day.

Seek

In a world where relying on ourselves is the norm, humility is the tension where we come aligned in the agreement that we can’t do everything ourselves.

As we seek God, we also seek His help, forgiveness, and truth. It is here that our paths are redirected, and our hearts are made clean by the blood of Christ.

Release

Humbling ourselves before God requires surrender, and as we let go of our earthly desires, He will pour out His grace over our lives.

God is not a tyrant who desires control over our choices; instead, He gives us the choice to choose. And when we choose His will over ours and His love over how the world loves, a beautiful relationship flourishes.

Jesus says in John 15:4, NKJV, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

Humility requires that we abide in Christ, and as we abide in Him, He will give us every grace we need to accomplish all we set out to do.

Where in your life do you need to be grafted into the branch of Christ?

Take some time to seek the Lord, asking Him where you need to repent. Then, boldly come to His throne and ask for forgiveness over your circumstances. 

He is faithful and will flourish you in His grace.