When You’re Running on Empty…

EMBRACE GRACE_EXTEND GRACE

When I’m running on empty —weary, overwhelmed and worn— Grace is what I need.

When it seems I’ve poured out more than I have to give —    Grace is what I need.

Grace — it’s such a beautiful picture of the give and take…

extend Grace…

embrace Grace.

 

EMBRACE GRACE_EXTEND GRACE

Easier said than done in this world that promotes and encourages attitudes of independence, self-sufficiency and “me-first”.  I fall captive to these attitudes all too often. I need grace. I need to embrace grace. I need to extend grace to those around me.

Grace – “charis” in Greek, the original language of the Scriptures, means:

  • that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, loving-kindness
  • of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
  • the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace.

Grace — I read of its perfect beauty in the gospel of John:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14

Grace — I can embrace and extend grace because Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus, the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Grace — Because He has given, I can receive…

 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. —John 1:16

So when I’m running on empty, weary, worn and spent —I embrace grace. I allow God’s Word to fill the empty spaces and places in my heart. I cry out to Him. I run to Him as my refuge. I am replenished by His grace.

He fills so that I might extend grace to others in their time of need. What the enemy seeks to destroy by dividing and distracting, Jesus strengthens and encourages. So that, in turn, I might strengthen and encourage another — extending grace.

I fall short. I speak an unkind word. I am impatient. I am selfish. I struggle to extend grace to others. But Jesus! And from His fullness I have received grace upon grace —so that I might embrace grace in my own life, so that I might extend grace to another. Oh, how I need Him every hour!

He Giveth More Grace

by Annie J. Flint

He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater;

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure;

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Grace — Embrace it. Extend it.

Praying today that we all might be “strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” —2 Timothy 1:2

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Susan Cady

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