Our Daily Grace: A Friend to Be with Us Always

"Papa has crawled inside of your world to be with you."

Paul Young

"I will talk to the Father, and He'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have Someone with you.  This Friend is the Spirit of Truth."

John 14:16

It's so good to know we always have a Friend with us, the dear Holy Spirit who lives within us, to be with us always.  Through all the joys and sorrows, the celebrations and disappointments, the challenges and the fears, through all the years, He will never fail us.  He will support us, laugh with us, sorrow with us, encourage us, and cheer us on.  He is our biggest encourager and defender, and He loves walking through this life with us!

Our Daily Grace: Free from the Law

 "Jesus laid the demand of the law to rest. It no longer has any power to accuse or demand."

Paul Young

"But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit."

Romans 7:6

It's such a wonderful thing for those of us who have never felt we could be 'good enough' or 'do enough' to find out we are not under the law anymore. There is no pressure or demand placed on us.  There is no condemnation or accusation placed on us.  We are simply free.  Free to be.  Free to do anything we want and still know that we are acceptable to God!  When we find this out, that we are accepted and righteous in Christ, regardless of our behavior, it just makes us want to love and follow God more and more!  That is the beauty of living the free life in the Spirit, rather than the bound life under the law!

A thought: There is no pressure on me to perform and no accusation on me if I fail.

Our Daily Grace: Beloved

"You will always be the Beloved."

Graham Cooke

"And a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Matthew 3:17

Jesus is the beloved Child of God the Father. And wonderfully, we are also the beloved children of God the Father!  He proclaims over us, 'This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased!' We are His dear little ones, and He is so delighted with us!

A thought:  I am very dear to God.

Our Daily Grace: The Peace of God

 "The peace of God is residing deeply in the innermost parts of your being.  We are not talking about a fragile sense of peace that can be easily disturbed, one that we have to fabricate ourselves; this is God's peace, the peace that God Himself enjoys!"

Francois du Toit

God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

We have the peace of God Himself inside us.  This peace swallows up fear and anxiety.  This peace is God Himself being peaceful in us.  The Peaceful One is already there inside us, keeping us safe.  He is an ocean of stillness, calm, and tranquility inside us, and we are buoyed up and float in this ocean of quietness.  He is where our anxious souls find rest.

A thought: God's peace is stronger than my anxiety.

Our Daily Grace: The Total Answer

 "The total answer is a Person, Jesus Christ."

Dan Stone

"I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives in me."

Philippians 4:13

Whatever our struggle or challenge, whatever our worry or fear, He is the answer.  Whatever our doubt or confusion, whatever our need or situation, He is the answer.  He is handling everything in our lives in and through us.  Whatever is needed, He is more than able to meet the challenge.  We never have to go through anything on our own!

A thought: My Friend Jesus is taking care of all that concerns me today.

Our Daily Grace: Love Drives Away Fear

"God is not mad at you, He is mad about you!"

Francois du Toit

"Love will never invoke fear. Perfect love expels fear, particularly the fear of punishment."

1 John 4:18

How wonderful to encounter God and find out He is not angry at us, not raising His hand to punish us, but instead find He is smiling at us, reaching out His hands to embrace us!  He is love, not judgment. He is love, not punishment. His wonderful love is acceptance, peace and friendliness.  His is a perfect love that chases away our fears. We never have to be afraid of God.  He will not hurt us.  He is a safe God!

A thought:  There is nothing to fear from God!

Our Daily Grace: No Requirements for Love

"You don't have to grow, change, or be good to be loved."

Brennan Manning

"Love endures through every circumstance."

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love makes no demands. Nothing is required of us to get God to love us.  We don't have to change in order to be loved, and we don't have to change in order to stay loved. We simply ARE loved. He is already here, loving us.  He is already here, embracing us.  He is already here, delighting in us.  And He always will be!

A thought: In this very moment, just as I am, God loves me.

Our Daily Grace: God Our Encourager

 "You are exactly where you need to be; you are doing a great job!  Don't change a thing!"

Darin Hufford

"Our God is a God who strengthens and encourages you."

Romans 15:5

God always has a good word for us, a word to uplift our spirit and encourage us.  He isn't pushing us to perform better; He is celebrating us right where we are, pleased with us right at this moment.  We don't need to change a thing for God to be proud of us.  He knows how tough it is to live on this earth and He is so proud of us right now!

A thought:  God's words to me are always encouraging.

Our Daily Grace: Only One

 "All words related to God are positive."

Amy Mester Hendry

"God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."

1 John 1:5

God is only good.   He is only loving.  He is only kind.  He is light with no darkness. There is no dark side to Him, for He is only good. There are no dark or negative words about Him, only good and positive words. He is the purity of perfect love that has no anger, hate, judgment or rejection in it at all!  He is only One - Pure Love with no mixture of anything else. 

A thought: God will ONLY love us!

Our Daily Grace: He Is Kind

 "He's the kindest person we've ever met."

Graham Cooke

"As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle and patient."

Colossians 3:12

God asks us to be just as He is - loving and kind.  He is always thinking good thoughts toward us and always doing good things for us. It's so wonderful to think of His heart that is so full of love, so gentle, so caring, so good, so considerate and kind!  He has the softest heart of all, and He has only love and kindness to give us.

A thought: I am living in the incomparable kindness of God.

Our Daily Grace: Radiance, Not Shame

"The radiance of His beautiful face filled the whole of the earth, following Adam into the depths of hell, rescuing him from endless death."

Julian of Norwich

"Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Psalm 34:5

At our worst, in our deepest darkest places, if we dare to look into His face we see that He is smiling at us!  We'll never come away from an encounter with Him feeling ashamed; instead, we'll come away radiant because we've been with the One who radiates only joy, only peace, only love to us!

A thought: Jesus makes me smile!

Our Daily Grace: Unchanging Love

 "His love is unchanging. And He loves you 100%. He won't love you any better when you become better. He loves you 100% right now.  Even if you have no plans to become better, He will still love you 100%.  Because that's the way He is."

Graham Cooke

"Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His loyal love endures forever."

Psalm 136:26

God is 'all in' and loves us 100%!  He loves us to the maximum amount every moment of every day.  And there's nothing we could do to change that!

A thought: God is loving all of me with all of Himself!

Our Daily Grace: What's On God's Mind

 "Sin isn't the main thing on God's mind, love is."

Anne Cary

"God is Love."

1 John 4:16

Love isn't just one of the many attributes God has - Love is His very Being.  God IS Love.  What a relief that God is Love, not judgment.  His main focus is loving us, accepting us, embracing us, helping us. He is not rejecting us when we sin but is sticking right beside us. Rather than making us suffer for sin, He  is suffering with us.  He is not punishing us but healing us. What a wonderful God and Friend!

A thought: God is loving me, not judging me.

Our Daily Grace: God's Way Is Called Grace

"What have you done that causes you to think God may be disappointed or perturbed toward you?  Whatever it is, you need to set it aside because that's what He has done."

Steve McVey

"He saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

John 1:29

We have a system in this world, where people should 'get what they deserve' and 'pay for what they did wrong' - but God has a different system: it's called grace.  God is a crazy God who doesn't even count what we do wrong against us, doesn't hold us guilty for sin, and actually takes our sin out of the way and absorbs it into Himself, blessing us instead.  God hasn't ever been perturbed with you or disappointed with you due to some failure on your part.  God has always loved you unconditionally, accepted you freely, and held you securely in His arms.  Let's stop worrying about our sin and start enjoying the One who loves us more than we could ever imagine!

A thought: God's way is grace.

Our Daily Grace: The Central Theme

"He is the central theme of all that exists."

Andre Rabe

"For all that exists originates in Him, comes through Him and is moving toward Him; so give Him the glory forever. Amen."

Romans 11:36

This creation, this march of the cosmos through time, is a love story with God at the center.  He is the hidden heart of the universe, the hidden lover of our souls, the hidden goal of the story of humanity.  As not only the theme but also the ultimate author of the human story, God already has the ending worked out and will make sure we get there.  One day God will be fully revealed as the center of all creation, and we will find ourselves face to face with the One who loves us forever - the ultimate happy ending to the story!

A thought: My life is a love story written by God. 

Our Daily Grace: Gentle God

 "While we may feel anger, disagreement, and strife within ourselves, we are always mercifully enfolded in the Beloved's gentleness, kindness, and humble accessibility."

Julian of Norwich

"The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions.."

James 3:17

God's wisdom is to be gentle and kind to us, peaceful and approachable with us.  We may be harsh with ourselves or each other, but there is no harshness coming from God, only gentleness like a still small voice or a soft breeze of His Spirit blowing in our souls. We may feel tension and anger within, but His gentleness continually wraps around us with softness, love and acceptance.  He is so good to us!

A thought:  God is always tender and gentle with me.

Our Daily Grace: Superlative Love

 "Any good we can do God can do better."

Antony Campbell

"Your steadfast love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds."

Psalm 36:5

All the universe couldn't contain His love, a love beyond imaginings, a love beyond all superlatives. However much we have been loved, accepted, understood, defended and supported by the most loving person in our life, that is only a tiny echo of the immensity of God's love and care for us! 

A thought: Noone has ever loved me as much as God does right now.

Our Daily Grace: The Fellowship of the Trinity

"God does not invite us into an inferior fellowship, but to the very fellowship that He and His Son enjoy for all eternity!"

Francois du Toit

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:9

Through Christ we have been brought into the very love circle of the Trinity.  We have been lifted up into the perfect relationship of the Father and the Son.  We have been made part of that fellowship of eternal love, sharing, and joy.   This is our inheritance as children of God!

A thought: I am wrapped up in the love of the Trinity forever.

Our Daily Grace: Beautiful

"Every person is beautiful to God!"

Anne Cary

"Never retaliate: instead, cultivate the attitude to anticipate only beauty and value in every person you encounter."

Romans 12:17

God asks us to look for beauty in every person, because that is how He is with people.  He looks for the good in every person. Even if we sometimes lash out at God, He doesn't retaliate.  He simply keeps seeing our value, speaking positive words of blessing and encouragement, seeing something good and beautiful in us.  He is a true encourager!

A thought: God sees beauty in me even when I can't see it!

Our Daily Grace: Healing Our Hurts

God never hurts the hurting; He never bruises the bruised.

Susannah St. John

He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 147:3

He is our healer.  He is not inflicting pain, He is removing it!  When we are down, He doesn't berate or lecture us, He simply helps and heals us.  He is a place where we can let our defenses down and share our hurts and wounds. Our broken hearts are safe with Him.

A thought: God is healing my heart.

Our Daily Grace: Fresh Every Morning

 "Every day is a good day, and You're the reason why!"

Cain the Band

"The Lord's loyal kindness never ceases; His compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; Your faithfulness is abundant!"

Lamentations 3:22-23

God's kindness is always there for us, renewed and fresh with every sunrise.  Every day He is doing something good. Every day is a precious gift, filled with the love and compassion of God!

A thought: Every day God's goodness washes over me.

Our Daily Grace: Not Blamed

 "He does not blame me for sin."

Julian of Norwich

"I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge."

John 12:47

Jesus understands how hard it is to live in this broken world.  He doesn't shame us for being human, having problems, or making mistakes.  He doesn't expect us to be perfect.  He is here with us, not to judge or blame us but to help us.  All He ever wants to do is to help us!

A thought: God is thinking about me, not about my sin.

Our Daily Grace: Tender-Hearted

 "His heart is the most sensitive and tender of all."

Richard Foster

"Be kind to one another, cherish tender feelings for each other, forgive one another, just as God forgave you in the King."

Ephesians 4:32

God wants us to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving because that is the way He is towards us.  He cherishes tender feelings for us, is moved with compassion for us, longs for us deeply, and is so touched by our every feeling.  He has the kindest, softest, most loving heart of all!

A thought: I move God's heart!

Our Daily Grace: He is Our Place of Calm

 "Jesus says, 'Shh! Be still. I am here. All is well."

Brennan Manning

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

He is our place of calm in the midst of the storm.  He can get us through anything.  He takes care of us even when we can't feel Him there.  Often we are anxious, worried, and fearful, but it doesn't matter because He is still carrying us through. He is the one who is quieting our heart, being peaceful in us, and reminding us that no matter what happens, He is still God and He is still in ultimate control. 

A thought: He is my peace.

Our Daily Grace: Heaps of Love

 "Grace never heaps guilt, shame or condemnation on people.  Grace heaps unconditional love on people.  Grace accepts us just as we are!"

Steve McVey

"Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us."

Ephesians 2:4

He doesn't shame or blame us.  He just loves us!  All He has for us is heaps and heaps of love, kindness, goodness, generosity and friendship.  We are being inundated with the unconditional love of God at all times. That is the grace of God!

A thought:  All God does is love me.

Our Daily Grace: The Good News of Acceptance

 "We are accepted wholesale. Accepted with no possibility of being rejected. Accepted once and accepted forever. Accepted at the ultimate depth of our being...  God accepts me, owns me, holds me, affirms me, and will never let me go."

Lewis Smedes

"We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise."

Romans 5:2

It's so beautiful to think that when we open the door to God, we find He's already opened His door to us.  He accepts us before we ever accept Him.  He has never condemned us, only accepted us.  He has never rejected us, only welcomed us.  He sent Jesus to take away anything that would make us hesitant to come to Him.  This is the good news!  Jesus is God accepting us, refusing to let us go!

A thought: I am accepted with no possibility of being rejected.

Our Daily Grace: Reconciled In Joy

 "Everything will be reconciled in joy.. He transforms all things, no matter how ugly or sorrowful, into blessing."

Julian of Norwich

"In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever more."

Psalm 16:11

In the end, all will be joy.  In His presence, there is no sorrow, pain, or suffering.  In His presence is full, complete joy and delight that never ends!  All the tears, hurts, and troubles that we carry within us, even the ones we ourselves have caused, will somehow be transformed into joy.  That is the ultimate reconciliation and God wouldn't have anything less for us!

A thought: I'll be happy in my God forever!

Our Daily Grace: He Does It All

 "The Christian life is totally grace. God initiated it, God fulfills it, and God will complete it. He is the One who lives it in us."

Dan Stone

"I'm convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

This life is too much for us.  But it's okay because God is in us, working, moving, carrying us along.  He is the One who is living out of us.  He is the One preparing us for each new day and then seeing us through that day. He is the One who makes sure we get to where we need to be.  He is the One making sure of the happy ending for us!

A thought: Life isn't up to me, it's up to God in me!

Our Daily Grace: Nothing Can Stop His Grace

 "Grace overcomes our shame by simply accepting us, the whole of us..with no regard to our virtue or vices..  Nothing I do or nothing I fail to be will even tempt Him to hold back His grace."

Lewis Smedes

"God is good to one and all: everything He does is soaked through with grace."

Psalm 145:9

Nothing can stop God from loving us or showing us grace.  Nothing can stop God from accepting us.  Nothing can stop God from being good to us.  It is simply who He is! We are always surrounded by the love, goodness and grace of God.  

A thought: I am never outside the reach of His grace.

Our Daily Grace: Before We Become Acceptable

 "Grace is the gift of being accepted before we become acceptable."

Lewis Smedes

"Look at Him..a friend of ..sinners!"

Luke 7:34

It's wonderful how Jesus was glad to spend time with anyone and everyone, accepting, loving, helping and healing them. They didn't have to change or clean themselves up first. Rather than acting too holy to be around sinners, He said those were the very people He came to help! He loves the "unlovable" and accepts the "unacceptable." What a Friend we have who completely includes us as His friends, just as we are!

A thought: Jesus loves being my friend.

Our Daily Grace: In the Center of His Love

"We are completely lovable in His sight and we stand fully in the center of His love."

Julian of Norwich

"Your life is kept with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:3

We are standing. cherished and embraced, at the center of His love.  We are hidden with Christ in the tender heart of God. In His wonderful presence of love there is nothing to fear.  Here there is no struggle or striving.  Here there is no worry or despair. Here there is only peace and joy and rest.  We are always at the center of His love, fully accepted, fully cared for. Here within Him everything is perfect.

A thought: At every moment I am safe in His love.

Our Daily Grace: One Loving Phrase

 "Grace has one loving phrase:  You are accepted.  Accepted, accepted, accepted."

Lewis Smedes

"There is no question of being at odds with God in any way."

Romans 5:9

No matter what others think of us or even what we ourselves think of ourselves, we are accepted by the most important One of all.  God accepts us as we are, at every moment, no matter what.  We are totally taken in.  We belong.  We are home.

A thought: God is the place I can always go to find acceptance.

Our Daily Grace: Good Overcomes Evil

 "God meets evil with good.  Love overcomes the spirit of evil."

Julian of Norwich

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Romans 12:1

God asks us to return good for evil, to overcome evil with goodness, because that is His method.  He meets all humanity's evil not with wrath or vindictiveness but with goodness and love.  He melts our hearts with kindness and overcomes the coldest, darkest mind with the strongest, most powerful force in the world - His unconditional love!  God's love will win against evil every time and will ultimately win against all evil for all time!

A thought:  God's love for me is the strongest thing there is.

Our Daily Grace: God in the Darkness

 "He has followed us into our darkness, and there where we thought to finally escape Him, we run straight into His arms."

Simon Tugwell

"I can never be lost to Your Spirit!  I can never get away from my God!"

Psalm 139:6

God was willing to become a man, to step into human flesh and enter this world to be with us in all our pain and trouble.  And He is still doing that today.  He enters into our pain and feels our anguish with us.  He holds us in the darkness.  Even if we run from Him, He comes with us to wherever place we run..  And if He is there for us at our lowest places, or even when we are at our worst, we KNOW He will be with us forever! He will never let us down!  

A thought: At the darkest moment, God holds me.

Our Daily Grace: Always Enfolded

 "Whether rising or falling, we are always graciously enfolded in one love."

Julian of Norwich

"His compassions never fail."

Lamentations 3:22

We are always wrapped in God's love and compassion, like a child snuggled in a warm blanket.  Whether we are having a great day or a terrible day, whether we are successful or failures, whether we are happy or sad, His love enfolds us and will never fail us.  We are cherished, we are safe, we are enfolded in the tender love of God.

A thought:  God holds me close to His heart today.

Our Daily Grace: Unlosable Love

 "You can't get away from a love that will not let you go."

Robert F. Capon

"I, your God, have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go."

Isaiah 41:13

No matter where we find ourselves, His love is there, holding us.  No matter how much we fight Him, rebel against Him, and turn our backs on Him, He is always right there, loving us.  This is the love that melts our hearts no matter how cold they may become.  This is the love that will never leave and never stop embracing us. We are safe in this unlosable love of God!

A thought: He won't let go.

Our Daily Grace: Happy in His Love

 "It is the greatest worship we can give Him, that we should live happily and merrily because of His love."

Julian of Norwich

"In Your generous love I am really living at last!  My lips brim praises like fountains!"

Psalm 63:3

God's love brings such joy!  We are loved no matter what, so we can start living more freely, singing more often, relaxing more often, enjoying ourselves more often.  It brings our heavenly Dad such joy to see His kids happy!

A thought:  We are loved into joy!

Our Daily Grace: No Conditions

 "With grace, there is not one single note of condition."

Robert F. Capon

"'For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the Lord who has mercy on you."

Isaiah 54:10

God promises to be our friend, to be there for us, to keep on loving us, to stick with us and bless us, through thick and thin.  It's a no matter what kind of promise with no strings attached, no conditions at all. We will fail, but it doesn't matter, because HE never will!

A thought:  God requires nothing of me and gives everything to me.

Our Daily Grace: Perfect for God

 "You're perfect for God. Perfect."

Graham Cooke

"The Lord you God is with you.  The mighty One will save you. The Lord will be happy with you.  You will rest in His love.  He will sing and be joyful about you."

Zephaniah 3:17

He looks at us and says, "You're perfect; don't change a thing."  It is almost unfathomable to realize that we are perfect to God.  In His loving gaze, we can completely relax. How wonderful to just rest in His arms today and hear Him sing a love song in our hearts!  

A thought: God is always smiling at me.

Our Daily Grace: Destined To Win

 "You're condemned to success and a victim of victory!"

Rob Rufus

"Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ."

2 Corinthians 2:14

No matter what, Christ just keeps on winning the victory through us.  No matter what, we are victors in Him.  No matter what, the ultimate victory has already been won and will be revealed in an amazing way!  Sin can't touch His victory through us, and death can't touch it either.  We are destined to win!

A thought:  I am already a winner in Christ.

Our Daily Grace: Complete in Him

 "We have been made complete in Jesus and need nothing but to be conscious of this truth."

Bertie Brits

"So you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ."

Colossians 2:10

We are filled with God, the Infinite One, so we cannot be lacking in any way. God has filled us with Himself; this is the fullness of life we were always meant to enjoy!

A thought:  I have Christ so I have everything..

Our Daily Grace: No Requirements

 "I want to say that, categorically, ...you have no Christian duties!"

Rob Rufus

"Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace."

Romans 6:14

We are not slaves trying to measure up to a master's demands or requirements.  We are children, unconditionally loved by our wonderful Father!  God demands nothing of us.  He loves us for free.  Living in the free favor and love of such a Father, we want only to love Him back!

A thought: I don't have to measure up.

Our Daily Grace: Carried Along

 "We are buoyed up and carried on by a life greater than our own."

Brennan Manning

"When you are old, I will still be there, carrying you... I will carry you as I always have.  I will carry you and save you."

Isaiah 46:4 

It's so good to know we don't face anything alone.  There is a great Someone in us who is carrying us, supporting us, handling things through us.  He is big enough for any challenge.  His overflowing Life keeps bubbling up from within us to fight every fear and bring us through every storm.  His Spirit of power and grace will buoy us up every time, through good times and bad.  And He will make sure we get safely home!

A Thought: I am a little child carried in God's arms.

Our Daily Grace: The Face of Love

 "At no time is His acceptance of me ever in question.  At no time does He ever deal with me except in perfect love, acceptance, and kindness."

Bob George

"God is love."

1 John 4:8

His only stance towards us is acceptance.  His only thought towards us is love.  His only action towards us is kindness.  There is such security in knowing He isn't a two-faced God; every time we look at Him we only see the face of pure Love!

A Thought:  All I will find in God is love.

Our Daily Grace: Nothing Left to Do About Sin

 "The sin issue between us and God is truly over.  God never deals with us on the basis of sins.. He is satisfied with the work of Christ on our behalf.  There is nothing left for Him to do in regard to sin."

Bob George

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

John 1:29

Jesus took away the sin of the world.  It is gone according to God, as far as the East is from the West.  God has nothing more to do about sins; it's already been taken care of for good! So we do not need to focus on sins.  Now we can focus on just enjoying friendship with Him.  This is what He has longed for all along!

A Thought:  God isn't thinking about my sin.

Our Daily Grace: At Home with God

 "The free gift of God is uninterrupted, unending life with God (relationship)."

Bob George

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23:6

Knowing Him is coming home and never being lost out in the cold again.  Knowing Him is finding the love you've looked for all along.  Knowing Him is knowing you will always belong.

A Thought:No matter what, I am always at home with God.

Our Daily Grace: Already

 "We are already as holy, righteous, forgiven and loved as we will ever be - RIGHT NOW."

Mike Fitzpatrick

"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

1 Corinthians 1:30

We are not trying to get righteous or trying to get sanctified.  We already are those things, right now.  We have Christ's own righteousness and holiness as our own. We are as righteous as Christ is, as approved by God and as right with God as Christ is.  We are as holy as Christ is, as set apart.  Right now!

A Thought: I have God's stamp of approval.

Our Daily Grace: No Transgression

 "Where there is no law, and there isn't for us as Christians, then there is 'no transgression.' We can't violate something that doesn't exist in our life."

Marcus Chewning

"Where there is no law, there is no transgression."

Romans 4:15

We are not under law but under grace. We can't be lawbreakers or violators of the law anymore, for we have been delivered from the law completely! We can forget about trying to keep the rules or worrying that we don't keep the rules and just enjoy the freedom of living in the grace and love of God.  For He doesn't see us as failures who deserve punishment but as children who deserve love.

A Thought: I am never a failure to God.

Our Daily Grace: Accepted

"True freedom is being accepted as we are in Christ."

Elaine

"To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

Ephesians 1:6

God knows all about us and accepts us just as we are.  We are finally free of the tyranny of "trying to be accepted."  We are already accepted in Christ.  God accepts us just as He accepts His own Son. And God could no more reject us than He could reject His own Son!

A Thought: God already accepts me.

Our Daily Grace: Our Gentle Dad

 "God never despises, shames or belittles His younguns."

Mike Fitzpatrick

"The Lord is waiting to be kind to you. He rises to have compassion on you."

Isaiah 30:18

What a gentle heavenly Dad we have!  We may despise ourselves, but He never despises us.  We may feel ashamed, but He doesn't shame us.  We may put ourselves down, but He never belittles us.  There is nothing but gentleness, kindness and compassion coming to us from God.

A Thought:  God is kind and gentle with me.

Our Daily Grace: The Best Thing

 "The best thing we can do for God is to let Him love us."

Mark Boyce

"Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:7

God LOVES loving us! He doesn't want our efforts, He just wants to love on us. From that wonderful love flows light, clarity, wisdom, strength, hope, peace, joy, gentleness, friendliness. Seeing His love for us, letting ourselves see His smile and feel the warmth of His delight, melts our hearts and fills us with His very life. It's ok to let God love on us..that is the best thing we can do today!

A thought: My life is full of God's love.

Our Daily Grace: Unlimited Grace

 "Our grace card is not going to be cancelled. His grace is unlimited."

Mike Yaconelli

"But where sin increased, grace increased all the more."

Romans 5:20

It's so easy to think that our sins disqualify us from God's acceptance, favor and help.  But the Bible says that where sin abounds, grace only abounds more.  We can't outsin the grace, love, and support of God.  And if our sin won't keep God from us, nothing will. His grace is truly without limit.  It will never fail!

A thought: I will never be disqualified from God's grace.

Our Daily Grace: His Cherished Child

"You are the child God always wanted."

Steve McVey

"See what great love the Father has lavished us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1

We can all say, "I am the child God always wanted!  I am wanted and cherished, just as I am. There is nothing wrong with me as a person. I am exactly who I am supposed to be, with the personality and quirks and interests He gave me.  He delights in the unique person that is me. I am loved and valued freely; I don't have to do or be anything to be more loved. I don't have to be anyone else but me."

A thought: God adores me, His child.

Our Daily Grace: At Our Lowest, He Accepts Us

 "Grace is God's unconditional love manifested to us in the midst of our sinfulness."

Bob George

"But God has shown us how much He loves us - it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!"

Romans 5:8

At our lowest point, when we feel the most sinful and unworthy, God breaks through and touches our hearts with His love.  He wants us to know that He loves us in every moment, even the ones we feel dirtiest and most undeserving.  Grace is the gift of His love and acceptance and blessing for free, so it doesn't have to be earned or deserved.  Isn't it wonderful to know Someone loves us even at our ugliest, and even calls us beautiful in those moments?

A thought: Even at my worst, I'm beautiful to God.

Our Daily Grace: Loved, Not Condemned

 "We expect criticism, what we receive is understanding. Instead of hearing words of condemnation, we hear over and over again, 'I love you.'"

Mike Yaconelli

"Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you..'" 

John 8:11

He is compassionate, not vindictive.  He is gentle, not harsh.  He is accepting, not critical.  He is not inspecting us to find out our faults but is instead looking on us with understanding, sympathetic of all we're going through. He is everything we hoped He would be and so much more.  His love melts away our defenses and pours like cool water over our souls, healing us with kindness!

A thought: God is everything I need Him to be.

Our Daily Grace: Our Union

 "Our union with God does not fluctuate.'

Dan Stone

"For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

Hebrews 13:5

We have been brought into the loving arms of God and made one with Him. He is in us and we are in Him, and this union is permanent.  God promises never to leave us or abandon us.  We are never alone and we are never on our own!

A thought: God is in me and I am in Him.

Our Daily Grace: Not Excluded

 "Your personal inconsistencies, doubts, addictions and failures do not exclude you from God's pleasure."

Mike Yaconelli

"For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love."

Romans 8:38

We are totally welcomed by God, and no part of us is excluded. God takes all of us, with all of our weaknesses, struggles, doubts and troubles.  He embraces the whole of us in His unconditional love. Nothing we do or don't do will stop this warm embrace. We are truly safe in His arms.

A thought: God embraces all parts of me.

Our Daily Grace: He Likes You

 "Jesus not only loves you, He likes you."

Mike Yaconelli

"He delights in every detail of their lives."

Psalm 27:23b

Sometimes it can be a struggle to find earthly friends who really enjoy our company and like us for who we are.  But Jesus is always that kind of friend!  He picks you as His friend, chooses you.  He loves to hang out with you, and He smiles when He thinks of you! He likes your personality, He likes your interests, He likes hearing your thoughts, He likes your inner hopes and dreams. He loves the way He made you with all your funny quirks and uniqueness.  He doesn't just love you, He truly likes you!

A thought: Jesus is the best friend I have ever had.

Our Daily Grace: No Struggle

 "Christ isn't struggling with me! I can relax. No need to struggle myself."

Nancy

"For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross."

Colossians 1:19-20

Christ isn't struggling with us or fighting with us.  He isn't disgusted with us or disappointed with us.  Christ is happy with us.  Christ is friendly towards us. Christ is at rest thinking of us. Christ is at peace with us!  Knowing He isn't struggling with us means we don't have to struggle with ourselves or beat ourselves up in self-hatred. We look into His eyes and all we see is love and friendship. There is such rest in that!

A thought: Christ is happy with me.

Our Daily Grace: Rest, Not Work

 "I wish for one moment we could get 'deeds' out of our mind when we think of God and our relationship with Him."

Bertie Brits

"For those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors, as God did from His."

Hebrews 4:10

God calls us to rest.  The Christian life is a life of rest.  We can rest from our endless labors to be good enough, to make up for our failures enough, to meet the standard enough, to figure out enough...because HE has already done enough, suffered and atoned enough, been good enough, met all standards enough.  His work is perfect, so mine doesn't have to be.  HE is perfect, so I don't have to be! He takes care of everything in this Christian life! Let's rest in His arms, because nothing is required of us today.  

A thought: God requires nothing of me.

Our Daily Grace: Blessed for Free

 "Grace means we can blow it in the morning and get blessed in the afternoon!"

Francis George

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing.."

1 Peter 3:9

God's way is about blessing and kindness.  He asks us to repay evil with blessing because that is His way of grace and love.  Our behavior doesn't have any bearing on how God treats us.  He always treats us with love, concern, care, help and encouragement.  He always blesses.  It is that kindness of God in the midst of our failures that raises up our hearts in such a powerful way.  Since He will love and bless us in the midst of our worst failures, He will ALWAYS love and bless us!  What security there is in this truth!

A thought: God is always blessing me.

Our Daily Grace: Our Sins Are Gone

 "Why focus on faults that God has dealt with satisfactorily in Him?  Why fix your eyes on what the Cross has redeemed and removed?"

Lydia Grewell

"But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

Hebrews 9:26

Christ's sacrifice removed sin, put it away, did away with it!  It's gone, once and for all.  So we can stop agonizing over our sins and faults and start thinking about Jesus and His love for us!

A thought: My sins are gone.

Our Daily Grace: Light Overcomes Darkness

"Light overcomes darkness, not the other way around."

Joyce

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

John 1:4-5

Sometimes it seems the darkness is so strong.  But the light of Christ easily overcomes darkness, the love of Christ easily overcomes hatred, the joy of Christ easily overcomes despair.  As God told Catherine Marshall just before He healed her of sickness, "There's nothing here that I can't handle."  

A thought: God easily overcomes the darkness.

Our Daily Grace: Always Gracious

 "Amazing grace has always been God's way.  He's never done anything that hasn't involved grace!"

Joel Brueseke

"The Lord is gracious and full of compassion."

Psalm 111:4

God wasn't all about law in the Old Testament then suddenly all about grace in the New Testament.  He has always been full of grace and has always taken the initiative to care for, love, relate to and bless us all. People's behavior has never been an obstacle for God. He has always loved and helped us regardless of our successes or failures. He has never been vindictive, punishing, or judgmental.  He has always been friendly, accepting and forgiving.   He has been carrying us along all the time, helping us and showing kindness to us, and He will keep on carrying us, supporting us and blessing us to the end!

A thought:  God has always been full of grace.

Our Daily Grace: Trustworthy

 "We have no reason NOT to trust the One who created us."

Kent Burgess

"..Perfect love drives out fear.."

1 John 4:18

Knowing He is perfect Love, purely kind, wholly good and gentle, makes it easier to trust Him.  He is only good; He has no "dark side."  He has never let us down and never will.  He will always come through for us in love and kindness and support.  He is the Love that never fails!

A thought: God has no dark side.

Our Daily Grace: Failure Makes No Difference

 "With grace, failure doesn't make any difference."

David Seamands

"For by virtue of that one offering He has perfected for all time everyone whom He makes holy."

Hebrews 10:14

Grace is amazing! Since it's based, not on our works, but on Christ's perfect righteousness and perfect, once-for-all work, we are truly safe.  We can't mess this up! No failure, lack of faith, confusion, waywardness, struggle or defeat on our part could ever undo what Jesus did or change one iota of His righteousness, which is given to us.  What happens between us and God when we fail?  Nothing!  We are still perfect before Him and totally accepted.  We are still His children and still right with Him (righteous). Isn't grace so wonderful?

A thought: When I fail, I am still right with God through Jesus.

Our Daily Grace: Forgiven Before We Repent

 "The Gospel is really vulgar, crass and immoral because it says that God forgives the world before it repents."

Robert Capon

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

2 Corinthians 5:19

Forgiveness - not counting people's sins against them.  That is what God did in Christ!  It's so mind-blowing to think of how He forgave the whole world before any of us repented, before we confessed, before we believed, and before you or I were even born.  We can share the message of this reconciliation, that God holds nothing against people, that there is nothing between us and God, that His arms are open wide to embrace us all!

A thought: There is nothing between me and God.

Our Daily Grace: Focused on His Love

 "We focus on His love for us, not on "trying to love."

Brennan Manning

"Lord, let You constant love surround us, for our hopes are in You alone." 

Psalm  33:22

No more struggling, no more endless trying to love. No more feeling that we are never good enough. Instead, just resting in HIS love that is perfect.  Just falling back into the arms that will never let us go!

A thought: His love will never let me go.

Our Daily Grace: Blameless

 "Christ is the END of BLAME for us!"

Sherri Minker

"Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault."

Colossians 1:22

Holy and blameless, without a single fault!  As holy, blameless and faultless before God as Jesus Himself is!  That's what Christ has brought forth; that's who we are.  There is nothing wrong with you; there is everything right with you!  

A thought: I stand before God blameless and holy.

Our Daily Grace: God's Treasure

 "You are a beautiful work of art, God's treasure.  He is with you, in every breath.  I hope you enjoy every minute with Him as much as He enjoys you."

Rebecca Armstrong

"You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

Isaiah 62:3

We can look at ourselves and only see flaws and failures.  God looks at us and only sees works of art to treasure!  What a great thought, that God enjoys us!  He loves looking at us, being with us, spending time with us, laughing at our jokes. He loves our company!  You are His little treasure, and He wouldn't want to spend His day any other way than by your side.

A thought: I am a treasure to God.

Our Daily Grace: Knowing Christ

 "The goal of the Christian life is not to stop sinning!  The real goal of the Christian life is knowing Christ."

Bob George

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

John 17:3

This eternal life we have been given is not about stopping sin, feeling guilty for not being better, and trying harder to become holier.  This Christian life is about knowing Him!  

That's enough, just to know Him.  To walk with Him through every day in friendship and love.  To join in the cosmic love dance of the Trinity.  To look into the eyes that have been gazing on us forever.  To know a love that won't ever leave us or let us go.  To be delighted in as a child in God's arms.  

Simply to know Him IS eternal life, a fountain of life welling up with eternal joys, a wellspring of life that never will run dry!

A thought: Knowing Him is true life!

Our Daily Grace: Unfailing Love

 "God's love will never fail you."

Jamie Weeks

"Love..always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

1 Corinthians !3:7-8

Others have failed us.  And we have failed ourselves.  But He and His love will never fail us.  It will always be there, always accept us, always hold us, always carry us, always succeed for us, for all eternity.

He will not let you down!

A thought: God's love will always surround me.

Our Daily Grace: Righteous

"I am the righteousness of Christ.  And the Court of Heaven will back me up.  Heaven's got my back, what a thought!"

Lydia Grewell

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you will condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord."

Isaiah 54:17

We are righteous with the pure and perfect righteousness of Christ!  No accusation can stand against that righteousness!  No shame, self-hatred, or despair can succeed against it!  You are righteous - right with God - through Jesus' finished work.  Never see yourself as dirty or unclean or lacking before God again!

A thought: God is on my side against all accusations!

Our Daily Grace: Loved, Not Punished

 "We were created by God to be loved, not punished."

Joel Brueseke

"Long before He laid down Earth's foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love."

Ephesians 1:4

God has only good thoughts toward us.  His thoughts are from eternity past and have always been love.  God didn't create people to punish them, crush them, harm them or condemn them.  He created people to love them.  Like any good parent, He loved His kids long before they were even born.  Let's see ourselves wrapped in His love, cradled in His arms!

A thought: My purpose is to be loved by God.

Our Daily Grace: Christ Our Life

 "The life I live in the body, I don't!"

Rob Rufus

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  

Galatians 2:20

We don't face anything alone; HE faces everything for us, in us, through us.  Christ is my life.  I don't have to worry about living the Christian life.  Christ naturally lives the Christian life, and that's who is living in me, as me! There is such a peace in knowing that rivers of Living Water are flowing out of us, completely adequate for anything!

A thought: Christ is naturally living out of me today.

Our Daily Grace: No Condemnation

 "God's voice is not on the frequency of condemnation."

Joseph Prince

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

John 3:17

God doesn't kick or demean people when they are down...He doesn't leave them feeling worse...He lifts up and saves people when they are down!  We may condemn ourselves and others may condemn us, but there's no condemnation coming to us from God.  Jesus wasn't called the Condemner; He is called the Savior!

A thought: God always makes me feel better, not worse.

Our Daily Grace: Restoring, Not Shaming

"God is in the business of restoring people, not labeling people."

Darin Hufford

"You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head."

Psalm 3:3

He doesn't want to put us down so that we hang our heads in shame.  He wants to lift us up so that we hold our heads high in joy!  God is not about bruising and breaking: God is about soothing and healing!

A thought: God always lifts me up.

Our Daily Grace: Love Beyond Reason

"God never loved you for a reason."  Wayne Jacobsen

"He loved us not to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us."

Ephesians 5:1

He doesn't need some reason to love us and He has no agenda in His love.  He just loves us for free!  Like any good parent, He just loves His kids. And "His kids" includes all of His created ones. As Paul told the people of Athens, "We are the offspring of God." Acts 17:29

A thought: God is a good Dad to me!

Our Daily Grace: Loving Ourselves

 "It's alright to love who God loves: YOU!"

Elaine

"I have loved you with an everlasting love."

Jeremiah 31:3

It's godly to love ourselves, not hate ourselves!  It's godly to be gentle, kind and understanding with ourselves. We are to love all who God loves, and God loves each of us!  For God so loved "the World" - that includes all of us.

A thought: I am loved by God so I can love myself.

Our Daily Grace: Delight

 "God is happy with what He made: us!"

Nancy

"The Lord delights in you!"

Isaiah 62:4

We are not a cause of disgust or disappointment to Him but always a delight to Him!  He is crazy about His kids!  He's so proud of us all.  As a billboard I saw once said:  "Your picture is on God's refrigerator."

A thought:  I am special to God.

Our Daily Grace: Joy

 "Everything God says is designed to bring us into joy."  Graham Cooke

"I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete."

John 15:11

His plan for us is always unceasing joy!  He is a merry, laughing, smiling God and He is bringing us into His joy and happiness. Everything leads to the eternal joy that IS Christ in us!

A thought: God's joy is in me today.