Someone in Need of Grace

1/22/19

Abba Father,

This morning, the inquiring words of Paul David Tripp echo in my heart from the pages of his devotional.  The words that convict, challenge, and echo are this:

“If you look into the mirror of God’s word and see someone in need of grace, why would you be impatient with others who share that need?”

How often I find impatience as the response of my own heart.  This very morning, in fact.  How often do I tend to forget the immeasurable grace that I am given, that I am in need of and thus tend to withhold that same grace from others.  Abba, forgive such carelessness.  Please forgive my own lack of grace when I have received so much.

My prayer this morning, for myself, for the body of Christ…may we be a people today who exemplify grace; who are known for patience and grace in the face of trying and challenging people and circumstances.  Remind us today, Abba, of just HOW MUCH grace we have received.  May this truth, this reality create in us a JOYFUL and DELIGHTED heart to extend that same grace to others.  Provide us opportunities this very day to extend grace to others.  Give us the heart, the propensity, and the inclination to do so at the very moment when our fleshly hearts are most inclined to withhold it.  Override and mortify the fleshly impulse and may we respond today with a supernatural grace that would exemplify Your holy character to the world.

Fill our hearts with Grace, Abba.  And may our thoughts, words, and actions echo and imitate that grace to others.

Amen.