The Messiah
Jesus Christ
The Word Made Flesh
Grace
Scripture (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Message
Grace is not a reward at the end of the road; it is the road. Whatever you are carrying today, you are not asked to carry it alone or to earn the right to set it down.
Practice
Name one burden out loud. Then open your hands, palms up, and breathe slowly for one minute without asking for anything.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, meet me where I actually am today, not where I wish I were. Walk with me at the pace of grace. Amen.
Lived out
Short practices that fit Jesus Christ's virtue of grace.
A practice to try
The empty chair at the table
“A friend told me to leave one chair empty at dinner and treat it as Christ's seat. I felt silly for about a week. Then I noticed I was speaking differently at that table, less sharp and more patient, because I had stopped imagining God as far off and started acting like He was in the room.”
TRY TODAY
At one meal today, eat as if Jesus is seated with you, and say what you would say to Him out loud or silently.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person.”
Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
A practice to try
Saying the name out loud
“I could pray about forgiveness in general for years and feel nothing shift. The change came when I said the person's name out loud in the prayer. It was uncomfortable and I had to do it many times. I did not feel warm towards them for a long while. But the bitterness lost its grip first.”
TRY TODAY
Say one person's name to God today and ask for the willingness to forgive, even if the feeling is not there yet.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)