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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Esther 3-5
Acts 16:25-40

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Acts 16:25 (CSB): “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

If I were arrested and thrown into a prison because I was talking about Jesus, “praying and singing hymns to God” might be the last thing on my mind. In the absence of God’s grace, I might settle into anger or discouragement, or somewhere in between. I’m not sure that I could muster the inner strength to be joyful in God’s presence under such circumstances.

I’m grateful that God is always ready to provide us with what we need, especially during times of difficulty. In fact, that’s the only way that the Christian life can be lived. Some people think that we are saved by grace through faith, but then we are left to ourselves to live the Christian life after that. But nothing could be further from the truth. Apart from God’s grace and provision, we would be no more capable of living the Christian life than we were before we were saved.

But thanks be to God because of His grace! He gives us the ability to live in ways that our mortal nature is incapable of living.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB): “And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.”

When we observe Christians behaving in ways that honor God but don’t come naturally, we realize that, while other variables may be at play, it is ultimately a demonstration of God’s grace. Without Him, we could literally do nothing. But with Him, we can do anything He desires for us to do.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you realize that you desperately need His grace to do anything He desires of you. Without his grace, you and I cannot do anything.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into God’s grace, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What does it mean that God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)