If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior you have been blessed with a whole new identity. You are among the chosen, a person who is now counted among God’s very own. You have been called out of darkness and into the light of truth. God sees you and has a plan for your life, which is to prosper you with a hope and a future. (1 Peter 2:9)

Let us give thanks for the grace of God. Let us receive His grace. It is so freeing!!

As Christians we want to follow God’s law and live a godly life, but so often we fail. Although we have a new identify in Christ, our sin nature is still with us. Paul, author of many of the books of the Bible, understood the challenge. He writes: “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.” (Romans 7:19-20)

Dear ones we, not unlike Paul, simply cannot trust our sinful nature. Our sinful nature, despite the law we long to obey, leads to death.

So how can we maintain righteousness?? Give up, humble yourself, let go and let God, and receive His grace!!

By His grace, we are blessed with God’s favor.
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)

By His grace, God gives us the power to do what we cannot do alone.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

By His grace every blessing is available to you and me. (James 4:6a)
“But He gives a greater grace…”

I will close with this Word of encouragement:
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Be blessed,
Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate