Laced With Grace

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Yesterday I read the above passage…I was convicted that I sometimes harbor things in my heart that are not very Christ-like. Let me explain:

I had sent an email to a dear friend of mine telling her that I was hurt by some actions she really didn’t had any control over. I made a hasty decision without checking the facts first.

The next day, I read the above passages. All I could think was “ouch”. We are God’s chosen ones; we are ought to clothe ourselves with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Talk about God uncovering my heart!

Immediately I have sent an email to my friend apologizing for my hasty decision and I pray that she can forgive me.

How often have you made a hasty decision when you felt hurt or wronged? Maybe I am the only one how reacts first and thinks later? Next time I feel hurt or wronged, I will pray before I react.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. We are Your chosen ones, holy and beloved. Help us to clothes ourselves with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience at all times. Stop us in our tracks before we make hasty decisions. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

Thank you for stopping by today. There is still time to sign-up for our contest. See all the details here…

I’ve been a Christian since I was a litle girl, but I find that even with that “headstart” there are so many lessons that are very difficult to learn. It was a time when I desperately wanted the Lord to do something for us. I prayed fervently, had others pray, sought counsel, did everything I knew to do, and heaven was silent.

Then one morning as I was sweeping the kitchen floor, it was as though an audible voice spoke to my heart, “All right Linda. I have heard your prayers, and I have a question for you. Do you want me to give you what you’ve asked for, or do you want My will in this very difficult situation?” It was, for me, a life-changing moment. I knew then that no matter how desperately I felt I needed something, if I truly loved the Lord as I said I did and believed His word, what I truly wanted more than anything else was His will. Our situation didn’t change, but I did. I gave it to the Lord, and He gave me all I needed.

So….lesson learned – or maybe not. We have recently had something come into our lives that has eclipsed anything we have ever faced. There were times I felt as though the weight of it had buried me alive. I had dreaded it for months; prayed so hard that God would deliver us from it. However, my worst nightmare came true, and I was devastated. I felt such disappointment with God, I couldn’t pray for a very long time.

He never gave up on me. He patiently waited until I knew that there was nowhere else to run but to Him. When I finally did, I came face to face with what is so basic in my relationship with the Lord. Do I trust Him? Do I trust that He will indeed work all things together for our good. Do I believe He loves us with a love that knows no bounds? Do I believe He is in control and wasn’t taken by surprise by any of this? I do. I believe He is who He says He is, and I believe He can do what He says He can do (Yes, I did that Beth Moore “Believing God” Bible study.).

Perhaps the miracle is waiting for us some time in the future; perhaps He has a different purpose in all of this. I only know I must trust Him, because without Him nothing makes sense. He is my hope and my joy. He has given me that peace that passes understanding. It is truly a miracle. I thought there would never be joy or peace or hope again. I was wrong. He is all those things and more. He knew us before the foundations of the earth, and He has a plan – to prosper us, not to harm us. He is so very good.

Today’s devotion is written by one of our supporters, Chelsey from Joyfully Living in His Glory. If you have not visited Chelsey at her home-blog, I encourage you to stop by today after you read her devotion…

If I’m not careful, I can get discouraged very easily. Life’s little tasks start to seem overwhelming, my duties as a wife and mother start to weigh me down, and discouragement starts to settle in and make a home. Do you ever have days like this? Do you ever struggle with finding the joy of God’s presence in your daily life?

In Psalm 77, David faced discouragement with a viable weapon. He says, “I will remember the works of the LORD: Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your works, and talk of Your deeds.” (Ps. 77:11-12 NKJV)

When we begin to feel that spirit of discouragement way heavily on us, that is when we need to reflect on the mighty deeds of the LORD and remember who we are to Him. Psalm 100 says we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! We cannot dwell in discouragement while his praise is “continually” in our mouths! (Ps 34:1)

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD: Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers the out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.”
(selected verses, Psalm 34 NKJV)

Remember what He has done! We need to make the entirety of Psalm 34 our testimony! We should talk about His mighty deeds of old and the more recent ones on our own behalf! We should meditate on His mercy, faithfulness, and holiness! We need to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done. The discouragement will melt away in the power of His Word. Our strength will return and our vision will be cleared; our perspective restored.

Oh Father, give us your strength and wisdom to withstand the weight that discouragement often brings. With lifted hands and outstretched arms we cry out for you to give us a peace that surpasses all understanding. Help us to praise you in the midst of our struggles and find our JOY in you.

Joyfully, Chelsey