So there is an eternal difference between the reality of God’s unconditional Love and whether we humble ourselves to receive this unconditional Love. As I said yesterday, all we have to do is show up. All we have to bring is a willing heart and open mind to receive the incredible gift of Grace, and as simple as that, we are saved forevermore. It is this Grace that draws us to God. It is this Grace that opens the opportunity so we can place our Faith in Jesus. And it is this Grace that moves in our hearts to want to be His. Want to. This is a major difference between whether we are His or not. We do not come to God out of obligation or coercion. It must be Freely and Willingly. (once again, see Free Will here.) In other words, we do not surrender to God because we “have to,” but because we “want to”! And even this is not from us, because it is the Grace of God that calls to us, makes The Way so we can be His and then works in our willing hearts to want to be His. God does it all then patiently awaits our response. Will we choose to be His or not? As all of this comes together in a beautiful and mysterious way, and we just surrender, God changes our Identity forever. We go from being “our own person, doing our own thing” (see sinner here), to being His adopted child (see saint here). From thinking life revolves around MMI, to knowing God is at the center of everything. From being lost and afraid or mistaken and arrogant to being found, forgiven, free. God’s Grace does this. We merely cry out, “yes and amen!” Agreeing with God, or in other words, confessing our sinful state, is all it takes. Salvation really is that simple. Ahhh but Pride! It makes everything a trillion times more difficult!
As the powerful song says, “I was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” In our BC lives, Before Christ, we thought we knew what would bring us peace and joy. Yet if we are honest, none of it lasted very long, if at all. We were always in the pursuit of the next thing that would be “the one” that would fulfill us. But as it is said, we have a God shaped hole in our hearts. Nothing and no one, besides God, could ever fill it up permanently. So once Grace captures us, and we humbly surrender to God’s rightful Lordship, then we find what we have been searching desperately for the whole time. The “hole” within us, is filled with God’s Love and Grace and then we become “whole.” See?
Grace is so much more than all we could ever think, ask for or imagine. (see Eph 3:20) We think way to small when we assume that wonderful verse is talking about material or earthly things. God wants more for us. He is thinking Eternity, while we are thinking this short and temporary lifespan. And so God pours down His Grace so that we will want Eternity with Him too. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired, my Friends? Then fall into the waiting arms of God and WANT His Grace above everything else. Stop thinking “have to” and start living by “want to.” Continue to fall into God’s arms, now that you are His, and let His Grace change your life…and hopefully, that of those around you too. We will get back to our book tomorrow…
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
July: Financial Freedom “Complete Guide to Money” by Dave Ramsey
August: Summer’s Soul Restorer “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by W Phillip Keller
September: Covering Our Children: “Prayers for the Prodigals” by James Banks
October: Reformation of Our Hearts: “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine” by Max Lucado
<>< Peace, Diane
