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DAY 1: FINDING PEACE IN HIS PERFECT GRACE

SCRIPTURE: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ”Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.-2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

DEVOTION:

The day I learned to view grace as a gift freely given and not an ideology or reward for good behaviour, I began to experience the fullness of love and peace found in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Throughout His writings, Paul traces the unending line of grace through Christ Jesus, deliberately drawing us away from sin and closer to the peace found under God’s wings. We often define grace through our limited vision and lived experiences, but, as a result, we weigh grace and favour according to flawed human judgment. But with God, the opposite is true.

The Bible tells us that “ALL” are justified freely, meaning you and I are free today and forevermore. From morning to nightfall, we are justified. Not only that, but we are redeemed. The accuser, the devil, has no case against us, and this is the confidence with which we must walk the earth as we bear witness not only to God's power but also to His tender mercies towards His children.

And all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.- Romans 3:24 (NIV)

Let me encourage you to lean into the fullness of His grace, and there you will find perfect peace. When the world is too loud and when fear grips your heart, His grace is sufficient. When nothing makes sense, and guilt is ravaging your soul, know that you are saved, sanctified, and free, regardless of your immediate surroundings. And all we need to do is be still, and this is our blessed assurance. According to Micah, all God requires of us is to act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. And this is the freedom of the Saints, abiding in the abiding grace of God that neither time nor circumstance can separate us from His love.

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? —Micah 6:6-8 (NKJV)

But can we confidently and successfully walk in such simplicity and peacefulness in a world where satan's seems to run rampant? Let us consider Joseph. By the grace of God, Joseph presided over Egypt. When the famine forced his brothers to seek grain in Egypt, he reunited with his brothers. When he finally reveals himself to his brothers, they are struck with guilt and fear because he wielded power and authority over them. But he did not condemn nor punish them for their past actions; he extended grace and forgiveness instead. The grace that God had been pouring over Joseph throughout his tumultuous youth was seen overflowing through him, and in this, the house of Jacob was saved.

Walking in the grace of God at times looks nothing like peace; at times it looks like endurance. We sin and fall short of the glory of God, but in Him we find salvation and freedom. From creation itself, God's grace has been evident. Before the cross, before our failures, we were always loved and chosen.

Life may have dealt you many hands that have led you down paths you feel should separate you from Jesus because the world has shunned and rejected you, but Jesus calls you towards Him, even in the middle of the chaos. At times, we turn away from salvation and reject mercy because we feel unworthy, but today I’d like to remind and encourage you to lean into the fullness of His grace. When the world is too loud and when fear grips your heart, His grace is sufficient. When nothing makes sense, and war is ravaging your soul, know that you are saved, sanctified, and free. And all we need to do is be still and bask in this blessed assurance.

Grace is not a concept; it is our reality. A gift to also freely give. The blood of Jesus paid it all; He is still in the business of answering when we call, regardless of time, circumstance, or background. Surrender your will and take up His yoke, and He will give you peace.

This year does not require you to prove your worth to God. It requires you to receive the grace freely given.

REFLECTION:

• What areas of my life have I been striving for God's approval instead of resting in His perfect grace?
• What would it look like to start this year from peace and not pressure?

PRAYER:

Dear God, I thank you for every season of my life because without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. All of the struggles I’ve faced have shown me I don’t give up easily. May I continue to be strengthened through every trial, knowing that your grace is still sufficient for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Written by: Candice Morrow