Embracing God's Mercy and Love

by Yvette van Niekerk

At meal times, we pause to say grace. Yet, I find myself pondering - do I truly grasp the depth of God's grace? The scriptures define it as an action of divine favor, a force that washes away sin and absolves guilt. It's the love of God, given freely, when I least deserve it. His grace stands as a beacon of forgiveness and acceptance, sufficient for every day. All I need to do is ask for it. Let's turn the spotlight on me for a moment. I am far from perfect. I've lied, stolen, gossiped, and even cheated. Each transgression carries its own weight of consequences, and guilt swiftly follows. There were times when I hesitated to seek God's grace, comparing my shortcomings to others', thinking mine were somehow worse. These experiences left scars, yet I continued to function. I once embarked on a journey to earn God's forgiveness, convinced of my own unworthiness. Though I might have appeared righteous on the surface, my soul felt as dark as pitch. I began by tentatively approaching the Lord, tears in my eyes. How could He, I wondered, even look upon someone like me? Soon, it dawned on me that Grace isn't a carte blanche to evade the repercussions of my actions. It doesn't grant me immunity to sin without consequence. Instead, it shifted my focus from my wrongdoings to God's word. To realign my life, I had to dive into the scriptures, rebuilding my connection with Him. I had to allow His grace to wash over my guilt, to accept it. How? Romans 4:17 reminds me, "I have made you the father of many nations." And Romans 5:8 resonates, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Following that, Romans 6:15 sternly warns against using grace as an excuse to sin. God's grace beckons me, and I want to draw near. Lord, I believe, and I accept Your Word, as Hebrews 4:16 encourages, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need." What have I learned? Guilt leads to condemnation. I yearn to live in conviction, where God uses my guilt as a compass, guiding me towards His Grace, leading to spiritual growth. How do I achieve this? I must grant God access to my thoughts, allowing Him to renew my mind. I need His Spirit to unveil my sin and expose its true nature. I must grow to abhor my sin, to desperately yearn for God, to cling to Him for forgiveness. I've grieved over my actions, but I've struggled to accept that God loves me, and His grace is sufficient. Often, I hear the cruel refrain, "you are nothing, a nobody, a total loser!" Yet, I also hear the comforting words, "Jesus forgives you!" Help me transform my thoughts, Lord, and renew my mind. I aspire to be elevated into holiness and truth. I now understand that God's convictions require effort. I must remain steadfast in Him, dwell in His presence, and cultivate my personal relationship with Him. I must relinquish my finances, health, and discipline to God. By allowing God full access to my life, I will be renewed in my mind, and my relationship with Jesus will be reborn. I yearn to overcome my past and live victoriously with the Lord Jesus by my side and within me. I desire to embody the words of Romans 6:22 today, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." And let's not forget to stand on Hebrews 8:12, "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." What an awe-inspiring and magnificent God we serve. As I contemplate this, I declare with conviction James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This is my belief and my present prayer for my own life. Grace is a potent force of liberation. I long for transformation, to become a better person, more pleasing to God and to those around me. I walk in the footsteps of Jesus, striving for perfection, though I recognize my imperfections. I willingly yield control, Lord Jesus, inviting Your grace to conquer my guilt and liberate me from past sins. I do not wish to deny You, Lord Jesus, as Peter once did in Matthew 26:69-75. Please, Father God, grant me the strength to seek Your forgiveness. My burdens have become too heavy to bear alone. You know the battles I face and the anger within me. Lord, how can I shed this weight of guilt and release these sins that haunt me daily? Today, I surrender my life completely into Your hands. Lord Jesus, I embrace You as my Lord and Savior. Holy Spirit, renew my mind and align me with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Amen.