Posts with the tag “grace”

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:12   Too we often find ourselves tangled in the threads of sin and shame, feeling unworthy of the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. Yet, in His infinite grace, God extends forgiveness to us—time and time again—removing our transgressions as far as the East is from the West. The truth is, we ca...  Read More

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9    Did you know the God you serve is a God of boundless forgiveness? 1 John 1:9 encapsulates the essence of this truth: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  God's forgiveness is not lim...  Read More

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28    In the midst of difficulty, God invites us to see a profound truth, He doesn't desire for us to merely "try harder" in our struggles, but to surrender them to His unwavering strength.  Often, we fall into the trap of attempting to navigate difficulties in our own strength, believing that trying harder wi...  Read More

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." - John 15:19   God often reminds us that we are not meant to conform to the patterns of this world. Instead, He commands us to be of Him: set apart, distinct, and aligned with a higher purpose. The words of Jesus in John 15:19 illuminate this divine callin...  Read More

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13   In our previous devotion, we dove into the importance of forgiving ourselves and embracing God's grace. Now, let's explore the other side of forgiveness—extending it to others, even when they've wronged us. The challenge is this: if God, who is perfect,...  Read More

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." - Ephesians 2:8   Take a moment to reflect on your life journey. Have you ever made mistakes, stumbled, or strayed from the path you knew was right? We all have. But in those moments, there's a truth that remains constant: God never gives up on you. In a world that often seems quick to j...  Read More

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23   In life, we are each woven with our unique struggles, sins, and imperfections. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse underscores the reality that no one is exempt from the grip of sin, regardless of the form it may take in our lives. It's essential to acknowledge that ou...  Read More

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18   Sin carries a heavy burden—one that is often felt most acutely in the depths of our hearts. Engaging in sinful behaviors frequently leads to feelings of guilt and shame, emotions that further hinder our ability to approach God with confidence and open hearts. In these moments, guilt and shame can ma...  Read More

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." - Micah 6:8   Humility is a virtue often misunderstood in a world that celebrates self-sufficiency and independence. Yet, a humble heart is at the center of God's transformative work in your life. It is the key to recognizing your dependence on God, a...  Read More

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more." - Romans 5:20   Have you ever questioned whether your sins are too great, whether you've strayed too far from the path of righteousness? It's a struggle many face, feeling that they've fallen beyond redemption. But today, be reminded that you can't “out-sin” God, for His grace is always greater than your sins. Romans 5:20 speaks of a profoun...  Read More

Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV) - "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."   In ...  Read More

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."   Walking with God is not a destination; it is a lifelong journey of transformation. In this journey, we come to understand that we will never reach perfection on our own. However, our desire sh...  Read More

Romans 6:1-2 (NIV) - "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"  God's grace is truly endless, covering our mistakes and offering forgiveness when we fall short. However, as recipients of this boundless grace, we must be mindful not to abuse it. Instead, God desires that when we mes...  Read More

Psalm 34:18 (NIV) - "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."   In our journey of faith, we are not immune to making mistakes. But even in our failures, God's grace abounds. He can use our mistakes as opportunities to deepen our dependence on Him, drawing us closer to His loving embrace and guiding us toward growth and transformation. Psalm 34:18 assures u...  Read More

Romans 8:28 (NIV) - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."   Have you ever made a mistake that left you feeling broken, unworthy, or discouraged? The good news is that God can use even our mistakes to bring about something amazing. He is the master of redemption, turning our brokenness into beautiful testimonies...  Read More

1 John 3:5 (NIV) - "But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin."   The impact of 1 John 3:5 on our lives is immeasurable. This verse reminds us of the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice and the profound implications it has for our sin-stained lives. Through His appearance, Jesus came to take away our sins and offer us the gift of forgiveness and r...  Read More

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17   Your past does not define you. Regardless of the mistakes, failures, or pain you have experienced, God offers a fresh start and a new identity. Let's explore the liberating truth that in Christ, we are no longer bound by our past, but transformed into new creations. Our past ca...  Read More

"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." - Psalm 5:3   The way we begin our day sets the tone for what follows. Starting our day alone with God in solitude and seeking His presence can have a profound impact on our hearts, minds, and spirits. Let's explore the benefits of carving out sacred moments each morning to connect with our...  Read More

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." - Matthew 16:25   Picture this: You're standing at the edge of a vast ocean, ready to dive into the depths of an adventure that surpasses your wildest dreams. But to embark on this extraordinary journey, you must surrender your life to the greater purpose that God has in store for you. As believe...  Read More

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." - 1 Peter 2:9    Have you ever felt like you didn't quite fit in? Like you were meant for something more? As children of God, we are set apart for a special purpose. We are not meant to conform to the ways of th...  Read More

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." - Ephesians 1:7   Have you ever felt like you're beyond repair? Like no matter what you do, you'll never be good enough? We've all been there, but the good news is that we don't have to stay there. As believers, we are redeemed through Christ. His blood shed on the cross paid the p...  Read More

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." - Colossians 3:13    Are you quick to judge and slow to forgive? Do you hold onto grudges and refuse to extend grace to others? As followers of Christ, we are called to love and forgive one another, just as the Lord loves and forgives us.  It can be difficult to extend gra...  Read More

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." - Ephesians 2:8   Have you ever made a mistake that you just can't seem to forgive yourself for? Maybe it's something you said to a friend that you regret, or a decision you made that had unintended consequences. Whatever it is, it's weighing heavy on your heart, and you just can't seem to let ...  Read More

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1   I have a question for you today. When you sin, are you beating yourself up time and time again? If so, I want you to understand the importance of not beating yourself up when you sin. It's easy to fall into a pattern of self-sabotage and shame when we make mistakes, but God's grace reminds us that we don't ...  Read More

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33   Today, I want to talk about something that's on all of our minds: priorities. It seems like everyone is busy these days, with work, school, family, hobbies, and social media taking up so much of our time and energy. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself: what's really importa...  Read More

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33   As believers in Christ, our ultimate goal is to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. This means putting Him first in every aspect of our lives, including our relationships. When we are desperate for God, we begin to see our relationships in a different light. We begin ...  Read More

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” - 2 Corinthians 8:9Are you sitting on an oil-filled ranch? Yesterday, we discussed a man who was living in poverty and was going to have to foreclose on his land. Just before he had to give it up, he had a team come to dig up the ground just to...  Read More

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:5-7  John 15:13 reminds us that “Greater love has no one th...  Read More

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a Holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” - 2 Timothy 1:8-9  If you are a child of God, you are highly favored. That is right, He ...  Read More

“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” - Ephesians 1:11  Did you know that when you give your life to Christ, you are a FAVORED child of God? That is right. He pours out His favor on you. This is why you receive endless grace and mercy and why He continues to bless you beyond what ...  Read More

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” - 1 Peter 4:10 Long before you knew God, He knew you. He created you. But even before He created you, He knew what you would become. He also knew the gifts you would possess. Why did He know that? Because He gave them to you! God is the one who has gifted you with spiritual gifts that He wants you t...  Read More

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:9  God chases us. God loves us. And God pursues us. That’s right, He doesn’t just chase us before we give our lives to Him, but He continues to pursue us day after day. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “...  Read More

“But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” - Genesis 3:9  Over the last few days, we have talked about why we should turn to God even when we are unclean. As I have mentioned, far too many believers and nonbelievers think they have to clean their lives up on their own before they turn to God. But that is just not true. God wants you just as you are. But sometimes, we do...  Read More

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9  Yesterday, we talked about being consistent in your relationship with the Lord every day. As believers or followers of Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to show up every day for Christ. We should be growing in our personal...  Read More

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 54:17  Did you know that when you belong to God, you belong to the most powerful being in the world? Yesterday, we looked at the story of a normal guy who could not...  Read More

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” - 1 John 2:1  Did you know that when you give your life to Christ, you permanently have someone in your corner advocating for you? There are a lot of people who feel alone in this world. They just wish someone would care about them...  Read More

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9  Mercy and grace. The two limitless gifts God has for those who have trusted in Him and given their life to Him. You know what? God has more mercy and grace than you have sin. But what are mercy and grace? Mercy is when God withho...  Read More

“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” - John 10:9 Have you ever had a late-night craving for a specific meal at a specific fast food restaurant? Maybe it’s a burger or a sandwich, or maybe it’s a dessert, like a milkshake or an ice cream sundae. You just can’t get that image out of your head, and you can’t stop t...  Read More

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” - Deuteronomy 28:1-2  As believers, we should be different. God calls us to be different from those of the world. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are not li...  Read More

“But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6   When you read the title, “You vs. God,” what do you think? You might be like, “Woah, Pastor, slow down! I’m not against God. We aren’t enemies!” Maybe not. Or maybe so. How do we know? God opposes the proud.   Is God telling you He’s going to bring you down? James 4:6 says, “But He giv...  Read More