Hello dear friends! Warm greetings to each of you on this day. I thank the Lord for you. Many of you are in a challenging set of circumstances where you are. Some of you are in harms way in Afghanistan. Others are planting seeds of the Kingdom in Ukraine and in Eastern Europe. Then, there are many of us are living in the United States... seeking to live out the discipled life that Jesus calls us to live. The common thread for all of us? We are in desperate need of His grace.
Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us of the value of living the grace-driven life. It's been a good reminder for me. I pray that it will be a good reminder for you too--no matter where you are living and serving today.
Captured by His grace,
Denny
PS. Thanks again to all who lifted me up in prayer this past week as I defended my dissertation. I passed . . . by the grace of God :)
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: 23 The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. 25 I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread. 26 All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. Psalm 37:23-26
Core Value: Grace
Just try harder.
Anyone ever told you this before? What if you have “tried harder” and the harder you tried, the harder it got and the harder it got, made you want to try even harder . . . and yet, no matter how hard you tried, and how many times you tried, you failed (and did so miserably)?
Sometimes the answer to life is not to try harder but to trust more. In our own strength, we can only do as much as we can do. The result of our trying is often limited to how we feel on a given day. Is there a better way of living the Christian life?
I believe there is and it is called the grace-driven life. When we set out to live a grace-driven life we are committing to trust the Lord for His endurance, His persistence, His power, His agenda, His life to become our own. Remember, grace gives us what we do not deserve. It pleases the Lord Jesus to give us “established steps” so we might hold on to His hand when we do fall. His grace allows us to live a life of faith where our physical needs are met, no matter how young or old we might be. His grace allows us to create a legacy where even our descendants are a blessing. This is what a grace-driven life will accomplish.
It’s time to quit trying so hard. May we all experience what it means to live a life that is driven by grace.
Principle #22 & Personal Application: The quality disciple does not have to strive for an impossible perfection but gladly presses in to experience a grace-driven life.
• A grace-driven life is marked by steps that are established by the Lord.
• A grace-driven life is marked by a protective Hand that grips us tightly, even when we fall.
• A grace-driven life is marked by a testimony that speaks of God’s great faithfulness to provide.
• A grace-driven life is marked by a desire to give away our time, resources, and talents.
• A grace-driven life is marked by a legacy of our family (our descendants) who become a blessing too.
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Can I recall a time when I suffered a stumble and, yet, the Lord caught me?
Am I experiencing a grace-driven life? If not, what must change in me?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for granting me steps that are established. May I always sense the grip of Your hand, Your grace. Thank You for the promise of Your gracious provision for everything I need in this life. And because I am experiencing the wonder of Your grace, may I always have a giving heart and be a vessel of Your grace to others.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
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