Learning to accept the grace of God

 

And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is, free and undeserved. 

Rom. 11:6 (NLT)

I have been in situations where I really beat myself up for falling short. I am a born again believer who preaches obedience to God more than anything else. I teach on how God's grace is available to all of us who has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I study this, I teach this, but somehow when I fall I can go into this deep condemnation that brings about depression sometimes.

But you might ask, how can you who know the will of God, which is His word fall under the devil's condemnation? How can you who teach and encourage others and still fall like this?

I've asked myself this many times and it wasn't until God spoke to me that I got a revelation and got free. He said, "Daughter you have not accepted the gift of grace that I have given you. You still think it's about your works, you still think you can earn my love by being a good little girl. I've told you many times that my grace is sufficient for you. You have not fully accepted the free gift that is not based on what you've done or how good you are, it's based on how good I Am."

When He said this to me tears begin to fall. I realized that that was my problem. I went about depressed many days because I hadn't fully accepted the precious grace of God for myself. Maybe this is you, maybe you feel trapped and conflicted because you really want to do good, but you always find yourself doing what you know you shouldn't be doing. If this is you, stop for a moment and think about how good God has been to you. Stop and think about how when you were a sinner He spared you and saved you. He cleaned you up. 

But you may say well, I'm doing all the things that I hate doing, I'm not clean!

Dear one, God had your days written before the foundation of the world. There is nothing that you could ever do that wasn't already accounted for. This is why the blood of Jesus was needed. This is why He had to come. He reconciled us before we ever committed a sin. My brothers and sisters, you have already been made clean.

The bible says, Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. Rom.6:14 (NLT)

We are not under a law that judges us according to how well we keep it. We now live under the freedom of God's grace. That's the beauty of grace, it's given because we don't deserve it. Accept the grace of God today. Know that God loves you despite all of the foul things you've done. Don't go another day feeling sorry for yourself. Don't give the devil another moment of your day. Rejoice for this is a day that the Lord has made, choose to rejoice and be glad about it.

Pray this prayer with me...

Father in the name of Jesus, I thank you for the precious gift you have given me called grace. I know now more than ever that it's not about my goodness, it's about Yours. Father forgive me for not accepting this gift and help me to confidently walk in it. Your grace was not given to excuse my sin, rather it was given so that I don't have to live in sin. I accept it now and I bless you again for your mercy and your grace that you have bestowed upon my life in Jesus' name!

Amen