A friend of mine asked me to write a short devotion for a book her church is putting together for the Lenten season. Is that cool or what? Their church is a Methodist church and I attend the Church of Christ. I love that they want to include thoughts from Christians and not only thoughts from Methodists. But then, this church and the people I know who attend there are some of the most exceptional people I know - loving and inclusive and Christlike. Here it is:
Each year a friend of mine challenges me to ask God for a word for the new year. This year I thought my word was Grace until January 1st when the word Trust seemed to be evident everywhere I looked, in everything I read or heard. So this year I am learning to Trust Grace. Knowing my year ahead there will be plenty of opportunities to put this into practice.
But what does trusting grace mean? Trust means to be confident in something, to firmly believe in the reliability of another person or thing. It also means "confident expectation". Grace means unmerited love and favor. Unmerited - unearned - a gift given out of pure love. Jesus is the gift. The life of a beloved, only son, given out of pure love for us, for you and for me. Are we confident in the reliability of the Giver of this gift? Do we firmly believe He loves us so purely He was willing to give the most precious gift He had to us who could never earn nor deserve such a gift? Do we confidently expect God to show us His mercy and clemency day after day as we live our lives as we often do - unaware of His gift or uncertain of its extreme intention? Can we expect to be changed into beings of grace thru this gift who in turn show His mercy and pure love to others?
Lord, help my unbelief, my distrust. Help me to confidently expect Your pure love and favor to be evident in my life as You transform my self into the image of Christ. May I trust Your grace and live accordingly among the world. Gracias!
2 comments:
Oh boy Candy, this post hits me in the solarplexis. Right deep in my gut. Trust is a huge struggle word for me and today I have been running to Abba almost minute by minute so I can trust Him on an issue, on life, on dreams and hopes. Thank you for the Ruach breathed reminder that trust is what I need to grasp and learn hugely right now.
I've never heard of this - but this year there were three words running around in my mind and heart. Compassion, convergence and esperanza ( which means to wait with hope). You have inspired me to write a prayer about them this weekend - I am attending a four day silent retreat and have been praying about the theme. Maybe you have helped pull that together for me - your words are very inspring to me this morning. Thanks. Anj
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