PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Two things about me—I hate being late and I hate having to cancel appointments because I messed up. Yesterday, I had to cancel an appointment because I made a huge assumption and didn’t fully listen to my doctor. Or rather my husband had to cancel it. I was asleep.
I went to the doctor for a minor procedure and expected to be tired and sore. I knew I wouldn’t be allowed to drive yesterday, but I had every intention of keeping a 2:30 appointment. Instead, I was put under anesthesia and my poor friend Kelly was stuck trying to get me in my house where I slept pretty much the rest of the day. And night. I think I’ve slept 20 of the last 24 hours.
All is good this morning though. I feel fine and very, very well-rested. But I feel horribly guilty for missing an appointment that had already been rescheduled because I threw out my back a week earlier (yes, I’m a mess, y’all). I’m sure grace will be given, but still…
It’s not the first time I’ve needed grace and I’m certain it won’t be the last. Thankfully, even if no one else on earth ever gave me an ounce of it, I have it in abundant supply from my Heavenly Father.
In Romans 11, Paul wrote about God’s grace to His chosen people, the Israelites. Today’s signature verse says, “And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved” (Romans 11:6 NLT).
While this passage refers to the Israelites, Paul was speaking to the Gentiles. And that grace God offers is free and undeserved for us too, yet it’s extended because of His kindness. Not because of anything we’ve done to earn it. All we need to do to receive it is confess Jesus is the Son of God and we need His salvation from our sins! Isn’t it so incredible that we don’t have to earn it? Because we never, ever could on our own.
Today, as you pray, thank God for giving us undeserved grace. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember that His grace covers all who accept it, even when we mess up.
