God's Grace Our God Reigns Ministries

God's Transforming Grace

God's grace is available to meet every need of our daily lives. His grace is not only for salvation. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it)". This verse assures us that God's grace is available and sufficient not only for salvation but also for every situation in our lives.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, when we are saved, we become new creatures. Old things pass away and all things become new. Something wonderful happens in our hearts, and we no longer want to operate according to our old ways. However, the flesh has evil tendencies because of the sin principle, and Romans 6 teaches that we must die to it. The real us, the new creature in Christ, has no desire to do wrong, but the flesh still has wrong desires and evil tendencies. And it isn't very long until believers discover that they are not always able to do the good things they desire to do. Their inability to accept God's grace in this area of their lives causes them to feel condemned.

I went through some pretty rough times in my early walk with God. I had been saved by grace, but I was trying to perfect myself by works of the flesh. I wanted so badly to change my life and to be holy as instructed in Leviticus 11:44....and I really tried hard. But it seemed I was always coming up short.

Grace That Overcomes Evil

We need not walk around in frustration over all our evil tendencies. The Holy Spirit gave me the answer in the Word. "But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace (continually) to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (James 4:6) This verse helped me see that our answer is grace, grace, and more grace!
Galatians 3:3 helped me realize that I had to live my daily life the same way I had received Christ. "Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun (your new life spiritually) with the (Holy) Spirit, are you now reaching perfection (by dependence) on the flesh?"

I realized that although I had started out right, somewhere along the way, satan had deceived me into thinking that living right was up to me. It is total foolishness and a waste of time to try to change ourselves through our own efforts alone, when God wants to give us His grace to overcome these evil tendencies.

Receive God's Grace His Power and Ability

I've always heard God's grace was undeserved favor, but grace is also power. Holy Ghost power, to do in us what we could never do. Grace is the power that flows to us through the channel of our faith, and grace will meet our every need and make us what we ought to be. It is a free gift that is available to anyone who will learn to receive. If we want to live in abundant peace, we must have a revelation of God's grace.
Trying to do things in our own strength only brings frustration, and 1Peter 5:5 tells us why. "For God sets Himself again the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)---(and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them), but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. God is against our pride and all our fleshly plans, so we must come to Him in humility. The proud take care of themselves, but the humble lean on God.

God won't let us perfect ourselves without humbling ourselves and seeking His help because if He did, we would take the credit. He wants us to realize that "...without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). He wants us to depend on Him for everything. We can have as much grace as we need because His grace is unlimited. Ephesians 2:7 speaks of this. "....immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. That's something to get excited about!

We Must Believe and Stretch Our Faith

We MUST believe if we are to receive God's grace. The Bible says, ..."Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God) (Romans 4:3). Righteousness is the only acceptable standard to God and it is offered to us through Jesus as a free gift by grace through faith.

...Grace and spiritual blessings and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:7). These are very comforting words that so many people today need to hear. There can be no peace in our lives until we learn to believe and receive grace.

I encourage you to struggle less and believe more. Don't try to change yourself on your own---you can't and you will only become frustrated. Pray and trust God to change you. We are living in the privilege of God's grace, so make sure you receive your portion!