Weekly Grace

As Christ’s followers, we’re facing an enemy who wants to take us out. If we feel as if we’re fighting demons on our darkest, most discouraging days, we are. Spiritual warfare is real, but God has equipped us with mighty weapons to overcome; these weapons aren’t physical, but spiritual, and designed to pull down strongholds and cast down thoughts that oppose God’s truth. Much of the battle takes place in our minds, where fear, doubt, and discouragement try to take root, but thankfully, grace empowers us to take every thought captive and align it with Christ.

Faith is our response to what grace has already provided. Even in dry seasons, when nothing seems to change, we’re called to keep trusting. Abraham didn’t waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God. Like him, we must continue moving forward, knowing that God’s promises never return void; our faith isn’t based on what we see, but on what God has already spoken.

Meditating on God’s Word fuels our imagination and strengthens our inner man. Delighting in His law and meditating on it day and night makes us like trees planted by rivers of water—stable, fruitful, and unshakable. God’s vision for us is one of success and victory, and when we align our thoughts with His Word, we begin to see that vision clearly. Our imagination, when guided by the Word, becomes a powerful tool for transformation and breakthrough.

Haters who plot against us are unavoidable, but they won’t succeed. Even when weapons form against us, they won’t prosper, because God has declared our righteousness and vindication through Christ. By grace, we’re saved through faith, and that same grace carries us through every battle. Victory isn’t something we chase; it’s something we’ve already received by faith.

Prayer:

Father, we’re grateful for the grace that empowers us to win every battle. Help us to keep our minds fixed on Your promises and walk by faith, not fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Romans 4:19, 20
Isaiah 55:11
Psalm 1:2, 3
Joshua 1:8
Isaiah 54:17, AMPC
Ephesians 2:8

Growth is necessary for all living things. This is true not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual realm. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen all at once—it’s a process that’s sometimes painful. While on earth, even Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, reminding us that growth takes time, surrender, and consistency.

Sometimes our growth is slow and quiet. Other times, it’s forged through fiery trials or moments of soul-searching. No matter the pace or the path, God uses every season to shape us into the image of His Son.

Genuine growth often comes through hardship. Peter exhorted the believers to rejoice greatly, even though they were grieved by various trials for a little while. Like Christ, we learn obedience through the things we suffer, and in that obedience, we’re being made perfect.

God’s grace also grows us through the fruit of His Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control aren’t just traits to admire, but evidence of transformation. As we abide in Him, these fruits become a natural outgrowth of His work within us. Whatever persecution we endure in the process develops endurance, which in turn develops strength of character, strengthening our confident hope of salvation.

Sometimes conviction is what causes the most growth. In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul described a church deeply moved by godly sorrow; not worldly shame, but a sorrow that leads to change. He emphasized the wonder of all the ways in which their distress drew them closer to God. He reassured them that they were more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, and more responsible.

Whether through trial, obedience, or conviction, God is always drawing us closer. His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. Don’t rush the process. Instead, we can embrace each step.

 

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for using every season, whether it’s joyful or painful, to shape us into Your likeness. Help us to trust Your grace in the process, knowing Your power is made perfect in our weakness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Scriptures:

Luke 2:52

Romans 8:29

1 Peter 1:6, NKJV

Hebrews 5:8, 9

Galatians 5:22, 23, NLT

Romans 5:3, 4, NLT

2 Corinthians 7:11, 12, MSG

2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Grace is more than a concept—it’s the living presence of God working in us through the Holy Spirit. Communing with Him lets us exchange intimate thoughts and feelings that deepen our relationship with the Father. This fellowship isn’t just reserved for church services; it’s a daily invitation to walk with God. Speaking in tongues is one demonstration of a grace gift that allows us to speak directly to Him, uttering mysteries beyond our understanding.

As we pray in the Holy Ghost, we build ourselves up in our most holy faith. The Spirit produces fruit in us and gives us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t earned through effort but received through grace. Communion with the Spirit is how grace transforms us from the inside out, making us vessels of God’s love and power.

The Holy Spirit brings peace that surpasses human reasoning. When life feels chaotic, praying in the Spirit allows Christ’s peace to settle every question concerning us, continuously acting as an umpire in our hearts. Jesus promised a peace that can’t be found anywhere else: peace rooted in grace and truth. This is something the world will never have; it’s unmistakable evidence that God’s love is actively working in us to calm our fears and restore our confidence.

Grace also empowers us to grow spiritually. God doesn’t just save us and deliver us; He continues working in us to mature us, giving us both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. He perfects everything that concerns us, never abandoning the work of His hands. This is grace in motion, shaping us into the image of Christ and guiding us through every season of life.

 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the grace that flows through Your Spirit. Help us to stay connected to You daily and grow in the fruit that only Your presence can produce. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 14:2, AMPC

Jude 1:20

Galatians 5:22, 23

Colossians 3:15, AMPC

John 14:27

Philippians 2:13, NLT

Psalm 138:8, NLT

Grace is more than just God’s undeserved favor. It’s also a tool He uses to teach us to walk in humility. Understanding that everything we have is a gift from Him makes boasting unnecessary. To stay humble, we must ask ourselves what we have that God hasn’t given us; grace reminds us that our accomplishments aren’t our own doing, but God working through us.

Humility positions us to receive more grace. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, He promises to lift us up in due time. This lifting isn’t about status—it’s about being empowered to fulfill His purpose.

Just as a sluice channels water, faith is the channel through which grace flows. As Paul reminded the Romans, it’s of faith, that it might be by grace. We don’t earn grace; we receive it by trusting in Jesus’ finished work. We’re justified by the faith of Christ, not by our own efforts.

Paul’s life was a testimony of grace that overcame unworthiness. He admitted that whatever he had become, it was all because God had poured out His special favor on him. Despite his less-than-perfect past, grace transformed him into a vessel of purpose. He acknowledged to the Ephesians that although he was the least deserving of all God’s people, God graciously gave him the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

Grace doesn’t just forgive but goes several steps further to empower. It humbles us so that God can work through us. It saves us from ourselves and our own empty self-efforts. When we stop striving and start trusting, grace takes over and does what we can’t.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your grace that humbles and empowers us at the same time. Help me to trust in Your work and not in my own, so that You may be glorified through me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

1 Peter 5:5, 6, NLT
1 Corinthians 4:7, NLT
Romans 4:16
Galatians 2:16
1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT
Ephesians 3:8, NLT

Grace is more than a concept; it’s the very nature of God’s relationship with us through Jesus Christ. It’s His unearned, undeserved favor that empowers us to live victoriously. This isn’t something we must work for, but something we receive by faith. It begins working in our lives the moment we believe.

The world still lives by the outdated mindset of the Mosaic Law, but we’re now free from that. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We’re saved by God’s grace through our faith; this doesn’t come from ourselves, but it’s the gift of God.

Grace is Jesus Himself; when we receive Him, we receive everything He has to offer. This includes salvation, righteousness, and freedom from sin. He doesn’t just forgive—He transforms. He gives us a new identity and empowers us to live in that truth daily.

The love and mercy God shows us through Christ has no limits. From His abundance we’ve all received one gracious blessing after another. He’s so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Grace also gives us a new standing before God. We’re no longer separated from Him by sin but brought near by the blood of Christ. We’re seen as holy, blameless, and without fault, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus did. This truth brings peace and confidence in our relationship with God.

God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. As a result, we’ve been made holy and blameless and can stand before Him without a single fault. This is a source of great encouragement and comfort when we’re in the midst of something.

 

Prayer:

Lord, no matter what we go through in life, Your favor toward us helps move through it. We’re thankful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Scriptures:

John 1:17

Ephesians 2:8

John 1:16, NLT

Ephesians 1:7, NLT

Romans 3:24, NLT

Colossians 1:22, NLT

 

God’s grace is a gift He freely gives to all, yet not everyone chooses to receive it. Jesus, who is grace in human form, came to offer salvation to the world; sadly, many reject Him even today. The decision to accept or reject Him impacts every area of our lives. For true transformation, we must receive grace by faith.

Jesus initially came to His own people, but they refused to receive Him. As many as did receive Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God. Christ came for the whole world. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all people.

The Mosaic Law was given to reveal our need for a Savior, not for it to be a substitute for Him. In the Old Testament, the people chose to rely on their own ability to keep the law, rejecting the help God offered. This mindset still exists today, but it leads to frustration and self-righteousness.

The world still sees God from an Old-Testament perspective. Back then, there were boundaries between God and people, and whoever touched the mountain where He lived would be put to death. In the New Testament, Paul wrote to the Romans that those who were ignorant of God’s righteousness had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.

Grace can never be earned—we receive it through belief. Our response to God’s gift is faith, not performance. Believing in Jesus allows us to receive everything He came to give.

When the people asked Jesus what they could do to work the works of faith, He answered and explained to them that the work of God was that they believed on Him and on whom He had sent. The promise, therefore, is received by faith and given as a free gift. God’s grace is already available. All that remains is for us to accept it with open hearts and trust in Him who gave it.

Prayer:

God, we’re thankful that we no longer have to work hard to earn Your favor. We can now receive it simply by believing in Your Son and what He did for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

John 1:11, 12

Titus 2:11

Exodus 19:12

Romans 10:3

John 6:29

Romans 4:16, NLT