Week Two Chapter Two-The Free Gift

Someone close to me, during a very stressful time of my life, had the audacity to say to me, “Having God is great, but sometimes it’s not enough.” As if there is anything we can humanly do that is greater than God. That was the last time I spoke to that person. If we cannot trust God to see us through our darkest hours, then when? Only when things are going well? What sort of faith is that?

 

This week’s chapter expresses where our gift of grace originates-strictly from God. How do we get it? Purely by believing. There is not a single, solitary thing we do on our own that warrants receiving God’s grace. He gives it freely from His love for us. And the glory of this gift of grace is that it’s not just for the super good folks, the radically religious sect—it is for ALL of us! And there’s more: there is nothing we can do to lose that gift. Once we are adopted as a child of God, we are His forever, no matter how bad we might mess up. Good to know, isn’t it? I mess up a lot…

 

The world would teach us that we can only rely on ourselves. We are in charge and solely responsible for the direction and success of our lives. God would have us learn differently. He would have us trust solely in Him, on Him. That’s hard at times, isn’t it? We want to be able to rely on ourselves, on the right here, right now. We want to be in control of our circumstances. I have sat in a miserable holding pattern too many times to ever think that I am the one in control. I’ve not always liked God’s timing, but I do know for certain that I love His intervention and intention in my life—where I’ve been placed by His loving hands.

 

Have you ever trusted Christ to be the Master of your fate? The Captain of your soul? If not, you can do it now. Tell Him that you want to turn from yourself and turn to Him as Captain as you accept His gift of grace. If you have already trusted Christ to be Captain of your soul, are you letting Him steer your soul completely? If not, in what areas do you need to put the wheel back into His hands?

 Don't forget to listen to Charles Swindoll's podcast for this week's chapter here.

You are welcome to share your thoughts in the comments below—I would love to hear from you! And I hope you’ll join us next week for Chapter Three-Isn’t Grace Risky?

 

In Christ,

Dawn