All By Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God. - Ephesians 2:8

There's a certain gift God has given me that has made me feel very proud of myself. At first I didn't think of it as a gift, but as something I accomplished on my own. It even made me feel a little superior. However, God is really good at knocking us off our high horses! After some prayer and thought, He made me realize that it wasn't a matter of me possessing this talent, it was a matter me being in serious trouble and being very stressed if I didn't have this talent! It was a grace from Him to help me through!

We take pride in who we are and in the things we have but the truth is that God is the one who gives them to us for our good, and nothing we have done make us deserve these things. It's not because we're smarter, more attractive, more deserving, wealthier, or better in any way than anyone else. It's because God knows where we are weak. I think of myself and the situation I would have been in if God hadn't given me the graces He's given me and I know I would've been in such a bad state. This doesn't make me better than anyone, but in a sense weaker because He had to come in and strengthen me. This is true for all of God's graces in our lives. They're supernatural powers He provides to get us through when otherwise we would have failed miserably! Think about the things you feel proud of yourself for and then think about your life if God hadn't blessed you with those gifts. It will change how you view yourself and relate to others. Then, thank God for what He has given you and realize how much you depend on those graces He's given you in your life.

Today's Prayer:
Father, thank You for the graces You have given me. I'm sorry for being prideful and failing to see that what I saw as an accomplishment was really You saving me. Help me to be grateful and to always acknowledge You in all the blessings in my life. In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.




Lumineux: Letting God's Light Shine
www.lettinggodslightshine.com