Sustaining Grace
"My grace is sufficient for you." 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
There are two kinds of grace: (1) Saving grace. The moment you place your trust in Christ, God expunges the entire record of your sin. (2) Sustaining grace. Paul writes: "I was given a thorn in my flesh... Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (vv. 7-9 NIV). Such vivid imagery! A thorn pierces the soft skin and lodges beneath the surface. Every step is a reminder of it: The child in the rehab center. The red ink on the ledger. The felony on the record. The craving for alcohol in the middle of the day. The tears in the middle of the night. "Lord, take it away?" But what you hear is this: "My grace is sufficient for you." Sustaining grace promises us not the absence of struggle, but the strengthening presence of God. John Newton, the Anglican clergyman who wrote, "Amazing Grace," found that God's grace was sufficient. On the day his beloved wife, Mary, died, he found the strength to preach a Sunday sermon. The next day he visited church members, and later on officiated at her funeral. Looking back he wrote: "The Bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine. But the Lord, all-sufficient God, speaks, and it is done. Let those who know Him, and trust Him, be of good courage. He can give them strength according to their day. He can increase their strength as their trials increase... And what He can do, He has promised He will do."
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
There are two kinds of grace: (1) Saving grace. The moment you place your trust in Christ, God expunges the entire record of your sin. (2) Sustaining grace. Paul writes: "I was given a thorn in my flesh... Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (vv. 7-9 NIV). Such vivid imagery! A thorn pierces the soft skin and lodges beneath the surface. Every step is a reminder of it: The child in the rehab center. The red ink on the ledger. The felony on the record. The craving for alcohol in the middle of the day. The tears in the middle of the night. "Lord, take it away?" But what you hear is this: "My grace is sufficient for you." Sustaining grace promises us not the absence of struggle, but the strengthening presence of God. John Newton, the Anglican clergyman who wrote, "Amazing Grace," found that God's grace was sufficient. On the day his beloved wife, Mary, died, he found the strength to preach a Sunday sermon. The next day he visited church members, and later on officiated at her funeral. Looking back he wrote: "The Bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine. But the Lord, all-sufficient God, speaks, and it is done. Let those who know Him, and trust Him, be of good courage. He can give them strength according to their day. He can increase their strength as their trials increase... And what He can do, He has promised He will do."
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
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2021
January
A Word For The New Year (1)A Word For The New Year (2)Trust God and Don't Be AfraidKeep PerseveringLet Go, And Let GodA Word For The New Year (3)A Word For The New Year (4)Why Pray?Have You Read Your Bible Today?Learn To WaitWhere Can You Find Peace?Trust God's Saving And Keeping PowerDealing With Fear (1)Dealing With Fear (2)Dealing With Fear (3)Dealing With Fear (4)Dealing With Fear (5)Dealing With Fear (6)Dealing With Fear (7)Are You Successful But Unfulfilled?Choice MorselsYou're Commanded To LoveLive For What Matters!Today God Is With YouThe Assurance Of SalvationHave You Stumbled?You Can Have Peace And ProsperityHow To Walk In God's Blessings (1)How To Walk In God's Blessings (2)You're "Graced" For This TestAre You Under Pressure Today?Why You Need A Relationship With GodHow To Strengthen Your MarriageGive God The First Moments Of Your Day
February
Keep Believing in ThemSeek God's "Peace" Concerning ItDecide, and Stick With It!Dealing with Your Doubts (1)Dealing with Your Doubts (2)The StingGod Will Provide "All" You NeedLoving and Accepting OthersGenerational BlessingsYou Must Respond With GraceTurn Your Loss Into Gain (1)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (2)Turn Your Loss Into Gain (3)Your Identity Determines Your InheritanceTake it to God in PrayerGiving to Your SupplierHow Are You Coming Across?Get a "Preparation Perspective"Believe it, God's Word is TrueThe Power of Intimacy With ChristLive For Something Greater Than YourselfDealing With Our SinUnderstanding True Holiness"Do" God's WordUse What God Has Given You"Be of Good Courage, And Do It"Always Keep Your Conscience ClearThinking of Yourself Less
March
People Pleasing (1)People Pleasing (2)Can You Pay The Price?Today Try To Be GraciousGoodness (1)Goodness (2)Tell Someone About Jesus TodayPreparing For Greater ThingsYour Words Reveal Your HeartYour Family Background Doesn't MatterOur Nation Can Be SavedShow Some Enthusiasm!Let God Use Your BusinessCultivate An Awareness Of God's PresenceLoving People You Don't LikeCast Out Your FearsDon't Belittle Your GiftGod Will Visit You AgainAccept Responsibility For Your LifeLearn To Set BoundariesWhat Will Your Legacy Be? (1)What Will Your Legacy Be? (2)What Will Your Legacy Be? (3)Sow For The FutureCrossing The "What If" LineDo What God Called You To DoBe Who God Made You To Be!Keeping The Excitement AliveGetting Beyond "The Splat"Don't Worry, God is FaithfulKeep on Persevering
April
Always Be HonestRedefining "Good" FridayThe Battle Over the ResurrectionThe Work Was FinishedRenew Your Love for ChristConquering Your Toughest Enemy - Yourself!Are You Struggling With Change?Don't Listen to the AccuserHarmony at Home (1)Harmony at Home (2)Harmony at Home (3)The Secret to Surviving Hard TimesYour Old Nature and Your New OnePrayer Can Change Your LifePrayer: Make it Simple and FrequentAre You Worried? Pray About It!Either Rule, Or Be RuledAnswering the Big Questions (1)Answering the Big Questions (2)Answering the Big Questions (3)Answering the Big Questions (4)Answering the Big Questions (5)How to Handle Disagreements (1)How to Handle Disagreements (2)Putting "Self" on the AltarThe Power of Influence (1)The Power of Influence (2)"Casting," or "Keeping."Memorizing Scripture and Conquering WorryTake Care of Each Other
May
Bearing Spiritual Fruit (1)Bearing Spiritual Fruit (2)Being ReadyTry To Be TactfulHow To Help Hurting PeopleMonitor Your Children's Close FriendsHow To Stay On CourseDon't Be A Know-It-All"Thank You, Mom"Fishing Lessons (1)Fishing Lessons (2)Fishing Lessons (3)Fishing Lessons (4)Fishing Lessons (5)Do The Right Thing By OthersNever Betray A ConfidenceBe GenerousBring Out The Best In OthersBe TenaciousAsk And ListenBecome A NurturerToday, Magnify The LordTake A Load Off Your MindGod Will Take Care Of YouRefuse To Be FearfulInvest In Your ChildrenBecome Willing To ChangeThrow Them All Out!The Rewards of Kindness (1)The Rewards of Kindness (2)Don't Meddle In Other People's Business
June
Communicating With Your FamilyConfession is Good for the SoulFocus on What's GoodGod Will Guide YouWhat Has God Promised You? Stand on it!Build Others Up (1)Build Others Up (2)Do You Want To Do Right?Failing in Order to SucceedThings Are Going to Get BetterMake Criticism Work For YouWork on Your MarriageMake Things Right With GodAre You Struggling With Temptation?Does Your Loved One Need a Miracle Today?God Wants You To Succeed
2020
October
Facing Death Without Fear (1)Facing Death Without Fear (2)Training Leaders Who Can Train Others (1)Training Leaders Who Can Train Others (2)The Martyr's ContestOld VoicesThink God Picked the Wrong Person?What You Weren't Sent to Do!Love and Enjoy Your ChildrenQuality and QuantitySoul HungerGod is Working in YouGrowth is More Important than GoalsDon't Stagnate!True Understanding Comes From Your BibleGet Rid of ItBelieve That God Has Heard YouLove ListensAre You in a Storm Today?How to Keep Your Peace and JoyHow to Pray EffectivelyGive Your Worries to GodTry Brainstorming (1)Try Brainstorming (2)Be Generous With GodFinding Purpose in Your WorkYou "Must" Love YourselfThe Gift of EncouragmentDon't Spread DiscouragementGo Back to Bethel!When Your Family Doesn't Understand You
November
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December
By God's Grace You Can OvercomeStrength Through SharingSustaining GraceWe Serve a Generous GodForgive Because You've Been ForgivenTry to Make RestitutionProtect Your MindMake Your Life Count for GodYou're Accepted, Loved, and SecureThe Bible and Your Health (1)The Bible and Your Health (2)The Truth of Creation (1)The Truth of Creation (2)The Truth of Creation (3)The Truth of Creation (4)The Truth of Creation (5)The Mickey Mantle StorySet Healthy Boundaries for YourselfDollars and DiamondsHave You Prayed About It?Forget It and Move OnHold On Until Your Joy ComesKeep Your Conscience ClearAre You Alone This Christmas?Christmas is About - ChristBe FlexibleFocus on the Solution not the ProblemHave You Been Betrayed?
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