Every morning we wake up and often in our own strength we try to do better…….we try harder at home, harder at school, harder at work. But in our own strength it can be exhausting and even trying to be better people seems to not work out right either. There is always something missing or needed. And because we are sinful people living in a sin-soaked world, doing life in our own strength is actually sinful. GOD did not design us to go it alone, to move through each day in our own truth or beliefs or strength. HE designed us to draw on HIS strength, HIS power and HIS love. HE designed us to receive HIS grace and HIS strength.
PAUL DAVID TRIPP SAYS THIS: “YOU SIMPLY MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE SIN AND YOU SIMPLY CANNOT OVERESTIMATE GRACE.”
This is a powerful statement to remind ourselves of every single day. Often we minimize our sin when we should not and very often we ignore our need for HIS grace when we need it the most. But GOD…….HE has a way of making people right with HIM. And the first thing we need to do is surrender all the “strength” we think we have!
Tripp says after the above quote that a healthy Christian life is lived in two ways: there is sin recognized and grace received. So let’s not minimize sin no matter what…..sin is still sin. And let’s not minimize HIS grace either. It is abundant and immeasurable and beyond all we can understand. HIS grace is powerful, healing and sustaining too.
What we cannot do for ourselves is enough to make us right with GOD. No amount of works in our own strength will save us. Only JESUS makes us forgiven and strengthened.
PSALM 27: 1 “THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION – WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRONGHOLD OF MY LIFE – OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?”
In CHRIST we can do all things. HIS strength is ours to take hold of. There is power in HIS name!
PSALM 28:8 “THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF HIS PEOPLE; HE IS THE SAVING REFUGE OF HIS ANOINTED.”
Maybe what we all need more of is to just……stop…….trying……. because the world tells us we need to. The world will define us if we let it……instead, let GOD define you, sin and all, grace and all.
Today identify your sin and turn from it. Receive HIS grace and then heal from it. Both these things are something we can never do ourselves to be right with our GOD. Only HE makes us right and forgiven, so humbly receive HIS amazing grace. Then realize that only a compassionate SAVIOR has the power and the strength to change our lives. HE can and will do for you and me what we could never do for ourselves. And for this, give HIM all the glory and praise that HE so rightly deserves!
JOHN 3:16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
Excellent call to have our priorities right before God and walk in His Light. Thank you! God bless you and your family today sister 🙏
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Aaahhhh.. . Maxine, this is like backing into a lap with a snuggly blanket.
We get inexpressible peace when we confess our sins to God. And He blesses us with even more peace in His grace.
We cannot understand this peace that passes all understanding until we surrender to God and obey Him.
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Amen, my Dear Sister… I know how easy it is for me to try to handle things in my own strength, especially when life gets hard. I’m still learning to surrender it all to Jesus and trust His Grace when I don’t have the strength myself.
🙏 You 🤗 Are 💌Loved
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