Day 3 | January 3

DAY 3 | January 3, 2024 | MORE GRACE

VERSE: James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ESV 

God desires to give us more grace, yet we understand according to this verse It takes humility to receive the grace of God. Grace is freely given and freely received. Humility recognizes our need and is the ability to receive what we don’t deserve and have not earned. Pride says, “I can do it on my own and don’t need anyone’s help; humility acknowledges we can’t do it on our own and need God’s help. 

 What is Grace? 

The Greek word for grace is “CHARIS,” and is defined as favor or graciousness. The grace of God is His divine influence upon your heart and its reflection in your life. It’s essentially God’s influence upon your life enabling you to do what you cannot do in your own ability. It is God’s enabling power in your life.

To live by God’s grace is to be divinely empowered. Grace not only saves us from sin but empowers us to live a new life in Christ. Titus 2:11-12 states, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ESV.” God’s grace does not promote sinful behavior, it empowers us to overcome sinful behavior. 

We all stand guilty as charged and deserve to be punished for our sins but grace says otherwise. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast, ESV.”

Everyone needs grace in their life. We access God’s grace by approaching the throne of grace by accepting the invitation to come into His presence as seen in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, ESV.” Do you need to find grace today? A throne represents ruling authority, and God’s throne is called the throne of grace, because it is His grace that rules in our life. 

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, with confidence we approach the throne of your grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. Thank you for making available everything we need in life to overcome sin, shame, fear, anxiety, doubts, our insecurity and our inability to live life the way you meant us to live. As you extend your grace to us, help us extend grace towards others. Give us a greater revelation of your grace today in Jesus Name.