Fruit that Yields - by Debra Courtney

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

Weak people seek revenge!

Strong people forgive!

Intelligent people ignore!

 

Sometimes, before we can deal with our eternal enemy and put his evil decisiveness under our feet, me might have to repent. Owning where we are wrong and accurately judging ourselves is an act that takes us into the best things God has for us.

Uhh! I know you probably didn’t want to hear that.

Here’s a trap: “all or nothing” thinking. Suppose you are mostly right and the other person is mostly wrong? What if you are 50% at fault but they are 50% at fault? Can you do a 50% of repentance and reconciliation? No.

But you can take 100% responsibility for your 50%….and this often releases the GRACE on the other person to own their 50%.

This isn’t easy. Have you ever got into a fight where you wanted to keep at it? The hardest thing to do is to stop and disengage! If your personality is that of a verbal processer of persuading and influencing others, something inside you wants to talk, text or tweet your way into victory! But it never works. You can’t ever kill off a spirit of offence by talking, texting, or tweeting it. The wise King in Proverbs has a lot to say about how we use WORDS. Remember - life or death in the power of the tongue! Ignore the enemy. 

Have you ever encountered a spirit of offence attached to a person? If so, you are in for a season of never ending verbal volleyball. The spirit of offence never lets up.  

However, what you can do (if you so choose) is to ignore the situation. Bide your time. David ignored the deeds of those who conspired against him…..but told his son Solomon that he needed to deal with those specific troublemakers if his administration was going to succeed. Think of yourself as a combined David/Solomon. David is the guy that screwed up and gave the enemy an opportunity to injure the monarchy. Solomon is the “wisdom” that came out of that screw up (talking about Bathsheba.) Once you get wisdom (often from the consequences of your bad decisions), God gives you a season to deal with your enemies and uproot them. Solomon had to take care of a lot of unfinished business by his father David. Remember, we get to make our choices, but we do not get to choose our consequences. Been there and got the T-shirt myself!

“…Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. I’ll do the judging, says God. I’ll take care of it.” Rom. 12:19 MSG. We can only surrender and let the Spirit of truth living inside us deal with the offences and the offender. We can’t do it in and of ourselves. However, there is always the prospect that God will take matters into His own hands and overcome evil by visiting it with an ax. Isn’t that the point Jesus made about the unfruitful tree?

Jesus taught that an unfruitful tree may have a delayed execution, but, if it persists in its unfruitful state, it will be uprooted. What if God does that with the areas of our lives? He “digs around us (the tree)” so to speak, but after a while, if things don’t surrender or yield to the master, He uproots it. We must water our roots with the WORD before the tree grows!

May we have deep roots in the reality of who we are and whose we are. That we not only love much but love well. Love appropriately in sincerity and intellect.  Being bountiful in fruits from the soul; making Jesus Christ attractive to all with whom we will encounter this year.

Be fruitful.

The Power of Forgiveness - By @Emily Laney

Photo credit: Keoni Cabral 
(creative commons)

The Power of Forgiveness
 

By 
Emily Walters Laney

I love this month’s theme on the Church 4 Chicks blog: “The Power of Christ IN us”.  It’s a simple statement, but it really packs a punch, and honestly, I didn’t know where to start with this post at first.  I mean, how do you encompass such a powerful statement in 500 words?  

Over breakfast at our favorite local spot one Saturday, I explained the theme to my husband. “What should I write about?” I asked him as I took a bite of my cinnamon roll French toast (FYI, best breakfast ever, so good.) 

He didn’t even hesitate with his answer, “Forgiveness.” 

At first I was hesitant, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that he is absolutely right.  What demonstrates the power of Christ in us more than our ability to forgive?  I think about the cross, and as Christ was suffering immense pain that most of us can’t even fathom, he spoke truth over the whole world.  

“Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'" – Luke 23:34a. 

The humility, the restraint, the power that Jesus demonstrated with those words are hard for me to comprehend sometimes.  The Creator of the Universe came to walk with us, to dwell with us, and then He suffered and died for us, and he forgave us!  I know in my own life I betray Christ and deny Him in many ways.  I don’t stand up for my faith like I should.  I am quiet when I should speak up more for His truth.  I am silent about injustice when I should tirelessly advocate.  I am prideful and look out for my own interests over those of others.  I’m a mess y’all, and even though I have plenty of things to ask forgiveness for, sometimes I can be slow to forgive others. 

I wear my heart on my sleeve, so I can be pretty sensitive.  I also really love to be in close community with others, so when I feel left out, betrayed, or ignored, it hurts.  Even though I have been forgiven for so many things (see above), I still struggle to forgive others.  I was reminded of this recently as I ruminated over a situation for days.  It got to a point where I knew that my lack of forgiveness was going to hurt me more than it would hurt the person by whom I felt betrayed.

Forgiveness isn’t easy.  Life is hard, and the source of our pain is usually from people close to us. We are all human, and we all have been on the giving and receiving sides of pain.  Some of the pain that we experience in this life feels unbearable.  Sometimes the hurts committed against us feels so crippling and so intense that we don’t think we could possibly offer forgiveness. 

That’s where the power of Christ comes in.  Christ dwells in us, and it’s with His power that we can forgive.  It’s not always easy, but with Him all things are possible.  If you are holding on to hurts, know that Christ wants to take that burden.  My prayer is that all of us can encourage and lift each other up to fully embrace the power that comes when we forgive.  

Emily Laney Bio:

Emily Laney is a social worker, educator, and justice seeker.  She has worked with vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad and loves to help startup nonprofits reach their goals.  She is a Passion City Church door holder and leads a team of abolitionists at Not for Sale Georgia.  She loves her husband Brent and their rescue pup Biscuit.  Sunsets and Sushi make her happy.  

You can connect with Emily on twitter @emilylaney or on her blog www.emilylaney.com

Matthew West - Forgiveness (Official Lyric Video) from matthew-west on GodTube.

I Can Trust God

Photo by Melissa Haas

I Can Trust God 

By Melissa Haas 

I can trust God, and I am totally dependent on Him for my needs. 

Does this statement ring true for you?  Sometimes the best way to gauge our level of trust is to think about times when the opposite of trust or faith rules our hearts. When we are not trusting, we live in fear, and when we are afraid, we usually do one of three things:  We become immobilized, we run away, or we try to gain/regain control of the situation.   

I’m curious.  How do you normally respond to the fears in your life? 

Fear in itself is not bad.  There are indeed things we should be afraid of—like the spitting cobra that found its way onto our front porch in Kenya one time or a tornado touching down near your home.  When we are in physical danger, fear lets us know that we need to get out of there and soon!  God gave us the ability to feel fear, and He understands when we are afraid.  In fact, He even tells us to fear Him.   

Being afraid, then, is not sinful, but sometimes the way we respond to our fears is offensive to God.  Let me give you an example.  

Remember back to the time of Moses.  God had delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, parted the Red Sea for them to pass, fed them and gave them water as they journeyed through the wilderness, and dwelt among them, leading them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  At this point in the journey, the Israelites had arrived at the border of Canaan.  At last the Promised Land was in sight!  God told Moses to send out spies so that they could give testimony to the fertileness and bounty of the land.  The spies went out and came back.  They reported that the land was indeed flowing with milk and honey, but there was a problem - There were giants in the land! (Numbers 13-14)  What did the people feel when they heard the report?   

The Bible says in Numbers 14:1-4 that all of the people “raised their voices and wept aloud.”  They grumbled against Moses and God, saying, “If only we had died in Egypt!  Or in the desert!  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?  Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.  Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” and they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 

Wow!  Crazy Israelites!  What were they thinking?!  God had delivered them miraculously from the hands of an evil pharaoh.  He had preserved their lives and parted the Red Sea, and He had cared for them all the way to the fulfillment of His promise.  Here they were, ready to go back to being slaves!  What’s up with that?  Couldn’t they see that God was trustworthy, that they could depend on Him to meet all of their needs?  Couldn’t they see that the Sovereign Lord of the universe loved them and had blessings and life in His plans for them?   

Of course, we would never trade bondage for life over a few measly giants, or would we? 

My friend and sister, failing to depend on God for your needs always results in bondage. When we take our lives into our own hands, we always fail, and it’s so easy to make excuses for our failures.  It’s so easy to bug out and go back to Egypt.  If we will take our eyes off the giants for just a few moments and raise them to look at an even bigger God, we will hear Him speak words of courage and peace. 

God, I’m afraid.  Do not fear.  I am with you.

God, I’m so lonely.  I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

No one knows me.  I knit you together in your mother’s womb. 

No one really loves me.  I laid down My life for you.   

I can’t do this, Lord!  You can do all things through My strength. 

I’m too broken to be fixed.  Nothing is impossible with Me. 

You let me down, God.  My ways are not your ways. 

I’m tired of it all.  Come to Me, and I will give you rest.

I will never be free!   If I set you free, you will be free indeed! 

There are lots of fears that rule our hearts and lives, fears that must be entrusted to the Faithful One.  Take some time today and let Him comfort your fears.  Lean back against His chest, take a deep breath, and tell Him out loud, “I trust You, Father, and I am totally dependent on You for everything I need.

Melissa Haas currently serves as the Director of Restoration Groups for HopeQuest, a ministry group in Woodstock, Georgia, which helps people struggling with life-dominating issues.  Melissa began her service in ministry in 1993 as an international missionary to Kenya, East Africa, where she and her husband Troy worked as church planters among the Turkana people.  When a significant marital crisis ended their missionary service, Melissa and Troy began a journey of healing and restoration that now serves as the foundation of their ministry to others.  Passionate about spiritual community, healthy marriages, and intimacy with God, Melissa regularly facilitates small groups and teaches and speaks on these topics in order to help the Body of Christ grow relationally with God and each other.  Melissa and Troy and their three children reside in Woodstock, Georgia.

Click here or on picture below to watch Kari Jobe's music video "You Are For Me"

Forgiveness: A Good Place To Start! A Guest Post by Renee Fisher, @devotionaldiva

Photo By Renee Fisher

Forgiveness: A Good Place To Start! 

By

Renee Fisher 

Maybe you’re the one wrestling with choices from the past.  You’re in deep sorrow. Maybe you’re bitter.  No matter what the pain of the past, God offers His hand.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus warned Peter that he would one day deny Him.  Peter was horrified at the idea.  “No way!” he said.  “I’ll never deny You.”…but then he did.  He denied that he had ever known Jesus…three times.

Ouch.  Never make a deal you can’t keep.  Peter broke his word even after Jesus gave him a warning.  How do you make sense of that?

Fortunately, the story’s not over.  I love what happens later.  After Jesus had risen from the dead He was eating and chilling with His disciples.  He took Peter aside during breakfast and asked him a tough question.  He said, “Do you love Me” (You can read the whole story in John 21:15-19). 

Now, we unfortunately only have one word for love in the English language.  In Greek there are three words.  The first is eros, which means romance or sexual love.  The second, phileo means a brotherly love.  It suggests deep affection, like you have for your closest friends.  Agape love is the strongest of all.  It can’t be earned but can only be freely given.  It’s a love that comes without expectations.  This is the kind of love Christ showed for us when He died on the cross. 

When Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, he was talking about agape--the granddaddy of all love.  Peter says, “Yes, Lord.  You know that I love you.”  Sounds pretty good and nice…but they’re not talking about the same thing.  Jesus is asking, “Do you agape me?” and Peter responds, “I phileo you.”  He’s basically saying, “I heart you, Friend.”  That’s not what Jesus wants.  It’s only phileo love.  Jesus asks Peter again, “Do you agape me?”  “I phileo you,” says Peter.  Jesus asks one more time, but this time he changes it up.  “Peter do you phileo me?”  He says.  “Do you heart me, Friend?” and Peter says, “Yes!” 

I love how God knows how much we fail and screw up miserably, and yet He sees us in our pain and meets us where we are.  He wants and tries for the best in each one of us.  He knows us personally enough to know when we’re not giving our all, or when we’re not even capable of loving.  What a fantastic day of questions for Peter and Jesus.  I’m sure they both went away thinking, "Phew! That’s a good place to start!"

~ Adapted from “Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me.” © 2013 Harvest House Publishers.  If you would like to know more about how to forgive others as well as yourself, please feel free to check out Renee Fisher’s new book on Amazon releasing August 1^st.  

Renee Fisher, the Devotional Diva®, is the spirited speaker and author of Faithbook of Jesus, Not Another Dating Book, Forgiving Others, Forgiving Me, and Loves Me Not.  A graduate of Biola University, Renee’s mission in life is to “spur others forward” (Hebrews 10:24) using the lessons learned from her own trials to encourage others in their walk with God.  She and her husband, Marc, live in California with their dog, Rock Star.  Learn more about Renee at www.devotionaldiva.com and her newest book at www.forgivingme.com.

All Access Pass by @Lori_Kennedy

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

All Access Pass 

By
Lori Kennedy 

“God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.”(Psalm 18:24 The Message)

Have you ever been to a concert and seen people with an All Access Backstage Pass?  When I was a teenager, I always wanted to get my hands on one of those passes and be included backstage where I perceived all the action and important people were. 

God has given you an All Access Pass to eternal life through His son Jesus Christ.  

John 3:16 (NIV) states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” 

What does this mean?  God loves YOU!  In fact, He loves you so much that he wants to be with you forever. But what does, “He gave His one and only son” mean?  God allowed His son Jesus to die on the cross.  But why did Jesus have to die?  Jesus conquered death when He rose back to life from the grave three days after his death on the cross. 

Whereas you and I are sinners, Jesus was sinless.  If you have ever told a lie, stolen anything, or even talked back to your parents, then you have sinned.

  Romans 3:23 (NIV) states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”   

Heaven is a fabulous place that has been prepared for you where no one will hunger or thirst again (Revelation 7:17).  God created Heaven and Earth with laws.  The laws of Earth include the law of gravity and the tides of the oceans.  The law of Heaven states that sin is not allowed into Heaven (Revelation 21:27).  Since God could not allow sin into heaven, Jesus’ sinless sacrifice covers our sin so that we can enter into heaven. 

This All Access Pass gives you more than eternal life.  It gives you freedom from the chains that bind you in this life once you open your heart to your Savior.  You, see, II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) says that you are a New Creation, the old has gone and the new has come.  Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

Have you given your heart and life to Christ?  God has promised you that He can rewrite your life if you open the book of your heart to His eyes.  I challenge you today to take full advantage of your All Access Pass so that you can overcome having freedom to fulfill your God given destiny.

LoriKennedy.com

Click the picture below for a video to Darrell Evans' song 

"Freedom"

Feeling Seen by @TraceePersiko

Photo by Tracee Persiko

FEELING SEEN

ByTracee Persiko 

I remember in high school when my crush talked to me for the first time in the hallway. I remember what it felt like to be stunned and looking around to see if he was really talking to me. AND he was an upper class man…that’s right!

I remember being stunned that he was sweet and a really a nice guy. Who knew he could hold a conversation and be normal. I couldn’t believe he was asking me about basketball. He knew I played basketball!?

My crush had always been this untouchable person that I would catch glimpses of between classes and at lunch. Now he was not only the guy I saw, but the one who also saw me.

Feeling seen always runs deep. It matters a lot, and is honey to the soul. 

My heart is always tender towards the Samaritan woman that Jesus talks to by the well. This woman had gone her whole life only knowing the sounds of scoffing and disdain.  She was not a respected woman. She had no friends in town and was known for being “loose” with the men. Due to her less than appealing reputation, this Samaritan woman chose the hottest times of day when no one was around to get her chores done. 

One day and one conversation with Jesus changed her life.

Jesus was a Jew who was not socially permitted to talk to a Samaritan woman. That didn’t matter to him. Jesus only saw a person to love.

While this woman was drawing water from the well, Jesus stopped and talked to her. He talked to her about life, relationships, and faith. He passed no judgments, but extends an invitation of new life and love. Jesus made her feel seen.

I don’t think it’s ironic that when the woman went back into town to tell people about Jesus that she chose these words, "Come see a man who told me everything I did. In my head I always continue the statement with, “and still loves me.”

For the first time this lost and invisible woman felt valued and known – she felt seen and accepted. Someone saw her. Someone accepted her sin and mess of a life and loved her. This changed everything.

Every one of us is a mess. Everyone is in need of value and love. Making someone feel seen changes everything. It did for me and the Samaritan woman. It’s healing.

In what ways have you experienced feeling seen?

How can you make someone feel seen?

Click here to watch Meredith Andrews' song video "You're Not Alone" 

Jabez

Photo By Amelia Grace Photography 

Jabez

by Lori Kennedy

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain."  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9, 10)

 

Historically, the prayer of Jabez has been equated with financial blessing.  However, there are some powerful “non” financial truths that apply to this prayer.  There are 149 verses of genealogy before and 261 verses afterward.  This prayer was hidden in scriptures.  It makes sense to ask why. 

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.  During this time in history, people were recognized by their family genealogy.  The culture rules were that the conduct and honor of your family line directly indicated what was to be anticipated from your own conduct and honor.  If there were scoundrels in your past, then it was assumed you could not be trusted.  If you had heroes in your past, then you were automatically thought to be a hero. 

The name Jabez means I gave birth to him in pain.  Parents expressed their aspirations in their children’s names.  Names were significant in these times and in this culture.  A person was considered to be marked for life by their name.  It reflected their expected destiny.  It was customary to step into the role of your name and to play out the role you had been given.  Jabez did not want to live up to his name.  Instead, Jabez wanted a dynamic encounter with a great God that would change his life forever.  He wanted to break free from the dysfunction and circumstances and transform his future. 

First, Jabez asked for a blessing. James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”  God WANTS to bless his children!  He then asked God to enlarge his territory.  Or for us, increase our sphere of influence.  Next Jabez asked that God keep his hand with him. This is a practical request not to step back into the dysfunction.  Jabez asked to be kept from harm.  In other words, may I trust You and follow You and not become dependant on myself, knowing all blessing is from you and not of myself.  Finally, Jabez asked to be free from pain.  This is powerful as this was his name and he was asking to be freed from his name and the destiny that man had assigned to him.  How many times in the bible was a person given a new name?  II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) states “For you are a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” 

Jabez had great faith.  God responds to Jabez’s faith and answers his prayer.  Jabez took the remarkable step to put faith in God to fulfill his destiny in a different way which was totally unacceptable in this time and culture.  Something about this average person touched the God of the Universe.  In a world where everyone becomes what was expected and lived out their predetermined path, Jabez had the courage to take a different road.  He was set apart because he was truly seeking God’s will for his life. 

I challenge you today to be a Jabez!  Get out of your dysfunction and into God’s will by overcoming and having the faith to fulfill His purpose and destiny for your life!

 

A Few Things of What I Know

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

A Few Things of What I Know

By

Debra Courtney 

I am to see my problems & troubles as a part of GODS’ education for me.

The seed that leaves my HAND never leaves my LIFE. It goes out into my FUTURE and produces my HARVEST.

ALWAYS have an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE. (Send thank you notes to everyone who helps us.

IGNORE OFFENCES!!!

Enemies create my REWARDS. GOD only PROMOTES OVERCOMERS.

SILENCE cannot be MISQUOTED.

The PROBLEM I decide to solve for others is called MY PASSION.

My mentor is interested only in my PROSPERITY. In who or whom do I trust?

What SELF-PORTRAIT do I decide to BELIEVE?

What weakness do I decide to CONQUER?  CONFESSION stops PERSECUTION.

The time I invest in the presence of GOD determines my PROSPERITY.

(In family, business, education, finances, friends, health, wisdom, understanding, favor, blessings, obedience, grace, mercy, joy, humility).

What FAVOR do I decide to PURSUE and PROTECT.

I am FOUR (4) people away from a FINANCIAL BLESSING. I cannot do anything by myself.

Whose AUTHORITY do I decide to HONOR?

SEED is NOT a MONEY word.  IT IS a SEED WORD.

(It is a supply word. I sow seeds of love, money, inspiration, time, study, learning, listening, caring, etc...). By doing all these and more I reap all these and more.)

SOW for a desired result.  SEED is what I SOW.  EXPECTATION is WHY I SOW.

EVERY ACT of OBEDIENCE I do, SHORTENS the DISTANCE GOD is BRING TO ME.

DISOBEDIENCE brings JUDGEMENT & CURSES.

GOD will never ask me for something I don’t have, but he will always ask me for something I want to KEEP.

My FAITH creates any FUTURE I WANT. My Miracle is in my MOUTH.

The PROBLEM that IRRITATES me the MOST is the thing GOD will give me to SOLVE. 

How long I stay in the PROBLEM, determines how I LOOK the problem. 

All MOUNTAINS look like a HILL from Heavens point of view. 

JESUS became the SON OF MAN, in order for me to become a DAUGHTER OF GOD. 

THE BLOOD OF JESUS has WIPED OUT my sin in HIS MIND & MY MIND. 

My SIN is JESUS' businesses NOT MINE.  (Jesus does not remind me of my sin, the devil does that). I do not stand accused any longer.  My plea: NOT GUILTY! I am redeemed. I am justified, just as if I had never sinned! 

The PRAYER will be answered once I SAY IT, VISUALIZE IT, TAKE IT, HAVE IT, & BELIEVE IT! 

One carnal judgment of another person only serves the purpose of hell in us. 

Don’t look for a natural answer to prayer. God works in the supernatural. If it is not an impossible thing, it is not a real disturbance. 

If we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving others.

Risen and Renewed

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

Risen and Renewed

 by

Cheryl Laurenza, MA, LPC, NCCBCPCC, CPCS, ACS

 “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. —2 Corinthians 4:17”. 

I was watching The Bible miniseries this past Easter as it depicted the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. I was overwhelmed with the emotions of gratitude and love for him, and for those followers to whom we owe so much. It truly is indescribable ( listening to Chris Tomlin)  you are amazing God!  He suffered for us, in our place, knowing we had the free will to believe and accept or not. I cannot fathom that type of selflessness, but I accept it humbly. 

As I watched Paul pen the above scripture passage from a prison cell, after having been beaten etc., I  see that he was NEVER a prisoner except for before his conversion. Then this morning this passage was part of a devotional reading in Jesus Today by Sarah Young. 2 Corinthians 4:17 does not make light of what you are dealing with. Instead it wants to take what is painful, difficult or heart wrenching and draw a comparison to Paul, who saw Christ and knew about what we have coming through the finished work of the cross!  That's how we hold on to Joy in the midst of very real and very painful stuff in our own experiences. God does not want you to feel ashamed or condemned for feeling real, human emotions. He created them! This has been even more freeing and grace-filled for me.  I invite you to journey into that with me this Spring, as a sort of renewal for your heart and for your life.  

You are precious in His sight, loved one.

The Refuge Counseling Center

500 Sun Valley Dr. Suite C-1

Roswell, GA 30076

P: 678 693 2281

F: 770 640 9287

Cheryl@refugecounselingcenter.org

www.refugecounselingcenter.org

4 Keys of Grace

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

4 Keys of Grace

By

Debra Courtney 

You and I were born to enjoy the benefits of the grace of God. We have the inborn traits of instinct for improvement within us.  We have the motivation for the increase of grace or at least we should. There should be something inside of us that gravitates us towards grace. 

God created us that way, and we will never be happy any other way. Now, I could discuss forever how our Abba Father bestows the grace of: Peace, Power, Wealth, Health, and Success – but unless you know how to obtain grace, it will not help you.  

1.       The Grace of Obedience

Deuteronomy 28:1 MSG says, “If you listen obediently to the Voice of GOD, your GOD, and heartily obey all his commandments…”. It means living up to the knowledge you have received. Simply doing what God has told you to do. If God has been talking to you about doing something, do it! 

2.     The Grace of Knowledge

Hosea 4:6 MSG says, “My people are ruined because they don’t know what’s right or true.” What you don’t know can destroy you God wants all His children to be knowledgeable. God is in the information business. The Bible is an information book. However, you can’t take hold of the grace and blessings of God unless you have the knowledge of what He has provided for you and therefore claim what belongs to you. 

3.     The Grace of Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 MSG says, “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” Forgiveness does not flow to you until it can flow through you. It means that you give up your right to allow God take care of any judgment and penalization of another person. Always exercise the ability to withhold judgment and let God perform His program. Believe me He can do it better than anything we could come up with to pay back anyone with anything they have done to us. 

4.      The Grace of Praise

Psalm 9:1 AMP says, “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! The purpose of praise is not just to make us feel good, but it is also to stir up others. Praise lifts us up to where God is. Praise is something we deliberately choose to do. God is comfortable with praise. Know this also, the demons hate it. So “PRAISE” on!  

We were born to receive the “GRACE” of our Abba Father!

Lord, I will sing of Your grace forever. I will tell others of Your grace from generation to generation.