A Reminder About Grace

Grace is God’s empowerment, bestowed on us. And that empowerment covers our weaknesses and helps us in time of need. It isn’t something we earn, but it is the gift of God.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 (New International Version, NIV) emphasis mine

Have you ever messed up? Who hasn’t? When we mess up, God is not there beating us over the head with condemnation over our mistake. The devil will, people will, and we may even do it ourselves, but God never will.

When we mess up, we can ask God for help, and He will come to our aid without finding fault or throwing all our past failures in our faces. If we consider all the times we disappointed Him, failed Him, and flat out sinned against Him, His willingness to help is amazing.

Listen, God is not mad at you or me, or even disappointed in us. And He has made the conscious decision to forget our past wrongs.

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17 (KJV)

The Voice translation puts it this way: “I will erase their sins and wicked acts out of My memory as though they had never existed. “

Even if we made the same error or fell into the same trap 1,000 times, He has chosen to erase the memory of it from His mind, and we have a clean slate. He is holding nothing against us. Of course, He wants us to learn from our mistakes, but He isn’t finding fault or giving us a guilt trip. Instead He is saying, “I love you and will help you. I am a generous, giving Father.” God loves us and gives us His best. So, the next time you goof something up, don’t hesitate to ask God for help. His arms are wide open to rescue you, do you good, and help you without condemnation or rejection.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2 (New International Version, NIV)