Embracing God's Grace
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV
“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others [do], but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.” Mark 14:38 NKJV
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:21-25 NKJV
God is forever making things new. New seasons. New revelation. New possibilities.
We should follow our Father’s example and move into the new things He would do with us. It is possible to free yourself from the grasp of your past without losing those lessons learned. Our past actually supports us when we gain knowledge from our experiences without allowing ourselves to become trapped by them.
Like the hydrangea, our past makes our future possible. We don’t gain wisdom and experience without going through some “stuff.” Those blooms wouldn’t be possible if I’d cut the old ugly wood off in the winter. The barren and ugly stems that survived the harsh cold are necessary for the plant to bloom. 
We would miss out on some of the beauty in our lives if God readily cut away those things (situations, experiences, trials) about ourselves that are sometimes “ugly and unattractive.” Because our God is merciful and His faithfulness endures, He doesn’t allow our “ugly” to consume us. Instead, He allows it to build us into better people. Usable people who eventually fulfill our purpose and bloom.
Our transitions from old into new require that we seek and serve the God who can make us new. Many of us propose to seek God. But are we really willing to serve Him? Turn ourselves over to Him?
God can renew our minds, hearts, spirit or whatever we have that is in need of fresh blooms. We must seek Him and often wait on Him, but to those who hope and wait on the Lord faith is rewarded.
If yesterday has you looking back and you find yourself feeling stuck or trapped, look UP instead. Allow God to transform you into something new.
“A Song of Ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the hills–From whence comes my help? My help comes form the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV
We all have a purpose. God loves, corrects and directs us enabling us to walk into the talents and dreams that He instills within each of us.
Purpose means that we have a job or a role to fulfill according to God’s plan. This means that no matter what we “mess up” in life, God is not done with us. He can still use us to serve some purpose in His Kingdom.
We are not here by accident and each have something to contribute no matter what the media, economy or naysayers may say. As people who have a role or a purpose in God’s great scheme we should act like the children of God that we are!
God can turn life’s “losers” into winners. Only He can transform the addict into a counselor. God can allow you to lose it all so that you are a better steward when He later restores you. God can allow the tests you endure to become a testimony that not only glorifies Him, but inspires someone else to seek salvation.
Never doubt that God has a plan for you. God can use your past mistakes as learning blocks for spiritual growth. Your experiences and failures are opportunities that you can share to show not just how God got you through the storm but how God got you to a better outcome.
We can’t possibly imagine how God places each piece of the puzzle together. However we can trust that God has a purpose and a plan, when we (deceptively) feel like we have nothing at all.
God can take the least of us and transform us into something great. God spared a baby and made him deliverer of a nation. God took a shepherd boy and anointed him King. Moses and David were not perfect, yet God used them nonetheless.
We don’t have to be perfect to fulfill our purpose. If we make ourselves available, God will surely make us able!
“May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.” Psalms 20:4 NKJV
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” Ephesians 1:11 NKJV
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” James 2:22 NKJV
We often begin a task full of optimism and confident that God can see us through our challenges. It may be something such as starting a diet, a budget or a changing careers.
However, our good intentions are often derailed as soon as the path we have chosen gets a little bumpy, muddy, broken or narrow. Sometimes when we make a concerted effort to break specific strongholds, the more things seemingly come against us.
Good intentions are often interrupted by family obligations, emergencies, or other events. A number of things can just “appear” right when we decide to make some serious changes. This is the time when you must press forward with “follow through faith.”
This faith is different from the initial confidence that you can “do all things through Christ.” We often know what is possible, yet still fail to push through to that next level.
This faith allows you to pass the cookie aisle when you need to lose weight. It forces you to sign up for classes even though you seemingly don’t have the time. It pushes you to apply for another job, open a savings account or put into action those things that will promote the changes you desire.
We often pray to God for change but fail to do our part to produce the change. The first day or even week we often start out strong but then as time wears on and the task becomes harder we often fall back into comfortable habits that don’t push us to become all that we can become.
Follow through faith prompts us to do the things we don’t feel like doing. It pushes through fatigue and pessimism. It does not yield to complacency It sees beyond the pain that will yield the eventual gains.
Follow through faith differentiates the believers from achievers. Achievers continue down the narrow path even as the pain sets in. Achievers are not afraid of failure as they pursue their goals. They simply learn from their mistakes and move on.
Follow through faith will push you forward when everything and everyone around you is a deterrent.
You can believe all things are possible, but are you willing to obey God and push yourself to turn the possibility into a reality?
What is God asking you to follow through?
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23
Potential – that can come into being; possible; latent, Webster’s Dictionary
God created everyone with a latent potential. Each of us was predestined from the beginning, no one an “accident” that just happened upon the earth. Each of us has a purpose waiting to be fulfilled. But to rise up to what we can become we must first unlock the seeds within before we can ever reap a harvest.
A farmer works his land and finally gets that seed into the ground where it is irrigated and warmed by the sun from above. After the farmer gets the seed in the ground, his work is not done, he can’t just leave the land to fend for itself. He doesn’t just wait for the harvest to come in. And neither can we.
Farmers watch aggressively for parasites and diseases that would destroy the harvest. He protects it from predators and pestilence. Farmers aren’t idle. They work and plan consistently. This takes lots of time, planning and patience.
We must work diligently if we are going to unleash the potential that lies within us. God gives us gifts but we must unlock the potential. Each talent and gift requires that we first acknowledge the gifts we are given. Some people have no clue of the talents within because they believe what others have said about them. Yet it is our duty to nurture our gits as seedlings, protect them from predators and develop them over time. Learning from our experiences, seeking God’s knowledge and remaining open to new and people and opportunities that will allow us to flourish.
Only God knows our true potential. Often our lack of achievement stems from a lack of vision. What odds we can overcome if we would recognize what God can do with us and through us! Instead of thinking about our limitations we should reflect on His power.
Consider the potential within each of us as a small flame. You can smother the flame and cause it to die. Or you can fan your flame, add fuel to it and be on fire for whatever purpose God has placed in your heart.
If you sincerely doubt you have a purpose, ask God to reveal it to you.
The activities you enjoy may hold the key to your talents. Pay attention to the things you do that make people smile or are helpful. Often the things we do best hold the key to God’s plan for us. Many times our frustration stems from working outside of those areas God has called us to.
Never doubt your significance. Never doubt God’s love for you. If you are alive you are part of His plan!
Even if you feel you have messed up so badly there is no hope for you, our God of mercy can ignite a new flame within you! With God there is always hope to fulfill the purpose He has assigned to you!
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoice; and with my song will I praise Him,” Psalms 28:7 KJV
“Praise” is mentioned roughly 200 times In the KJV Bible. The book of Psalms is full of songs that praise our God. This emphasis on “praise” should show us just how powerful it is. David wrote song after song about the greatness of God. His heart was filled with praise for the Father. Even after committing murder God’s love for David did not falter.
Could it be David’s continual praise made all the difference? 
Praise was taken very seriously. There was praise before battle. There was praise after the battle was won. How much more could we find ourselves in God’s presence if we would intentionally praise Him beyond the church walls?
Praise is a mirror image of prayer. Our prayers tend to focus on us and our needs. Our praise glorifies the goodness of God!
Praise is the “thank you” we give God for each new day. Praise is the song that acknowledges that yes, God, I know it was you that pulled me through difficult times. Praise is worship. Praise is the product of allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest inwardly within us and we in turn manifest outwardly the joy and peace that He brings.
Praise paves the way for progress. Praise is the power that pushes us through situations instead of keeping us stuck in them. Praise speaks to God our Father and reflects our love for Him. Praise speaks to our own spirit and is an outpouring of His love for us.
Never minimize the power of Praise. It can open doors that have been shut for years. Praise can produce results you could never make happen!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” Proverbs 18:21. What kind of life do you want to live?
Don’t blame. Praise instead! Blame never produced one good thing. It is a negative reflection on a past you cannot change. However, praise uses your voice to push you into position to overcome past failures and open up to new opportunities. Praise takes the emphasis off of ourselves and magnifies our Father with Whom all things are possible!
Praise God because of His goodness. Praise Him for who He is. Praise God for what has done for you!
Replace your complaints with praise and see what a difference it makes in your life. Praise is the fuel that allows you to fly high with faith. Allow your praise to take you to levels you would never dared believe you could achieve.
Praise God in all things!
P is for Praise!
“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness; and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” Psalms 7:17 KJV
“Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” Psalms 69:34 KJV
B Is for Blessed! 