RECEIVING GRACE
A sinner lost, broken, surviving. Longing to be loved and accepted, even by my own parents, good behaviour and school grades were rewarded. My coping mechanism in life was to please people. How? By works, being good, being everything I thought I needed to be to be loved and accepted. It’s exhausting !!! You’re never enough, you never get there, you’re a hamster on a wheel.
Then at the age of 28, I allowed Jesus into my heart . . .
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:8-9 NIV
I found what was missing in my life, God’s unconditional love and acceptance not of my own doing. I didn’t have to ‘perform’ or strive to be good, it’s impossible in our own strength. My salvation was a free gift by grace.
I have learnt that the danger of works is that we can glorify ourselves. We exalt ourselves in the place of God. Lies had to be smashed and torn down in my life. Have you heard of the ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Dr Chapman? It’s online, google it. Acts of Service is one of the languages and it’s mine. We are called to serve in the Kingdom, Jesus demonstrated this in Matthew 20:28. The enemy is a liar and used my love language against me, to wear me out and destroy me, he was succeeding. In 1 Peter 4:10-11 it says we are to steward God’s grace and use our gifts to serve others for His glory, God is exalted not us.
Walking in God's will, in obedience and doing the things He wants me to do, I am enough, His grace is sufficient, I am child of God, accepted and loved. Chosen, restored, thriving.