What exactly is grace? Is it a fact to believe, an emotion to feel, or a truth to think? What does it look like in real life to receive grace from God? From people? What does it look like in real life to give grace to people? Can I give grace back to God?

               Is it giving God grace to realize He is a mystery to be explored and loved but not understood? So, I don’t judge God by thinking, questioning, or doubting what He’s doing. Is it grace to trust that God is doing what God does best – – Loving, Healing, Redeeming, etc. – – especially when it would seem that despite all my pleading prayers that nothing is changing, nothing is happening…

               How does God give me grace? Is it His gentleness and kindness as I stumble through life doing what I don’t want to do yet not doing what I want; and then wondering, “Ok God, what is going on?? Why is my life so messed up?” Is it grace for God to keep working in my life and heart? To keep convicting me to change to become more like Christ? Is it grace to give me the courage and strength to do hard things? To be brave and speak up for a weaker person?

               What does it look like for me to give grace to other people? Is it being curious about their actions, words, or choices rather than simply judging them and deciding they are messed up and just need to grow up? Is it being patient with them while they process what life has given them? Is it being kind and giving them an encouraging word or maybe even a word of caution?

               These questions and thoughts came tumbling out of my brain/mind as I was doing my homework for group one week on how I saw God’s grace in my life. I wrote out a good-sounding answer in my workbook but felt that I wanted to explore this further and just write…. I also did a bit of research and digging into the Bible…

                Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines grace as God’s favour, kindness, friendship. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says grace is “the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him. Also, “Favorable influence of God: divine influence or the influence of the Spirit in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.” I absolutely love those definitions of grace! Yes, Grace is a fact to believe, an emotion to feel, and a truth to stand on!! Grace is kindness, patience, and love in dealing with people, even my own heart. Grace is trusting that God is working even though it seems nothing is happening. And the only way we get this awesome, amazing grace is because of the work Jesus did on the cross because of His great love for humanity. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” And 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” This is probably my favorite verse about grace: So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 I can boldly come to my Papa God, and I will receive His mercy and will find the grace I need to live a holy, healthy life. Thank you, Jesus, Papa, and Holy Spirit for Your Kind Mercy, Your Amazing Grace, and Your Overwhelming Love… all I ever will be is because of Who and What YOU are…. may I be a fountain of Your Grace to first my own heart so I can be a fountain to the people I do life with. Give me wisdom, insight, and understanding to live and love well…

               Sometimes, those of us who have been believers for a long time can speak glibly about God, Who He is, and what He does for us. I want to encourage you, even challenge you, to stop and take some time to ponder – -God’s Glorious Amazing Grace and how it shows up in your life, and how do you show that blessed grace to the people in your world?