Grace! How to Live in it!

How do I live by Grace? Grace is a Christian doctrine that is a powerful tool for living a more fulfilling life. Living by grace means living with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the abundance and blessings in your life and approaching challenges and difficulties with a sense of compassion and forgiveness. Webster defines Grace as “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification”. Once God calls His own to Himself, by Grace, we can also live in that Grace for the remainder of our lives here on Earth. Here are some tips for living by grace after God bestows His grace on you:

1. Practice gratitude: Make a conscious effort to focus on the positive aspects of your life and express gratitude for them. Keep a gratitude journal or make a list of things you are grateful for each day. This will help you cultivate a sense of abundance and appreciate the blessings in your life. Practice grace with others. Think of all that God has done for you and show that same kind of grace to others.
2. Let go of judgment: Practice approaching yourself and others with a sense of compassion and forgiveness. Instead of judging yourself or others for mistakes or shortcomings, try to understand their perspective and be kind and forgiving. When you or someone sins, forgive and act like today is a new day.
3. Cultivate mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware in the moment. This can help you cultivate a sense of calm and clarity, which can help you approach challenges with grace and equanimity. Don’t be thinking of tomorrow and miss today. Give yourself grace to see what is in front of you. I used to dread Sunday’s; all I did from about 4pm till I went to bed, was think of all I had to do on Mondays. But once I started living in the moment, the stress of the future went away.
4. Embrace imperfection: No one is perfect, and trying to be perfect can lead to stress and anxiety. Instead, embrace your imperfections and focus on growth and improvement rather than perfection. Perfection causes us to be dissatisfied with most things in our lives.
5. Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is an important part of living by grace. Make sure you are getting enough rest, eating healthy foods, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. My drill sergeant use to say “if you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, you do good”.
6. Connect with others: Relationships are an important part of living a fulfilling life. Cultivate meaningful connections with others and practice empathy and understanding in your interactions with them. Friends are vital to make it in this world. We need each other. Take a risk and make a friend.
7. Let go of control: Trying to control everything in your life can lead to stress and anxiety. Instead, practice surrender and trust that everything will work out for the best. If you say “God, take this from me”, you will feel a sense of freedom and feel His grace that is available to all.

Living by grace is a lifelong practice that requires intention, effort, and commitment. By cultivating gratitude, compassion, mindfulness, self-care, and meaningful connections with others, you can live a more fulfilling and joyful life.

As Paul often says "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 1:3
In Love,
Pastor Jody