I was sitting in church one day, and a sister came over to me and asked how I was. Considering I am moving through what seems to be an endless trial, I said to her, “The story is still being written.”
Her response to me was, “Seems like the theme for this season, for many are being, ‘fueled by grace.'” I asked her if I could take that comment and expand on it! “No worries,” she said, “You can have it!”
I cannot get it out of my head: “fueled by grace.” I have a mental picture of us as individual rocket ships, needing just the right mix of fuel to launch into the unknown, high above the trials of life. Not only do we need the proper fuel for these times and days, but we need to have the proper spark for ignition. I call this spark “embracing grace through faith”—cooperating with that grace.
The message of grace is empowerment. Without grace, I believe we would implode, for sure. The trajectory for our lives, that is filled with moguls, becomes vague, bleak and hopeless without grace.
Let’s define grace:
1. Strength from the Lord in trying times
2. Unmerited favor.
3. His mercy and forgiveness to us.
4. Special anointing for specific assignments.
5. A gift.
6. The ability to move through difficulties with poise and peace.
Let’s see how Paul managed his thorn in the flesh.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 says: “I asked the Lord three times that this thing might depart from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproaches, in hardships, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over. And so, the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
When we surrender our lives to Christ, the “old man” is dead; we are new creatures in Him, and also, He lives in us. We receive the fullness of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In John 14:12-14, Jesus tells us that we will do greater things than He did. I don’t know about you, but my head has difficulty wrapping around that. But because He said it, I believe it.
It seems like most of the church does not know or believe this truth; therefore, they never walk in it. How does this happen? When we journey to embrace His presence, we will bump into His grace.
Remember the definitions above. When we come to Jesus, we inherit salvation and many other empowerments. One of these is grace. When we need it, it is there waiting for us to cooperate with it. One of the ways you cooperate with it is through your faith and believing that as you journey through your life, the fullness of grace is available at any given moment. You believe His Word on the subject. I also believe there is an abundance of grace when His presence becomes the primary focus.
Have you ever been through a trying time, and when it is done, you wonder how you made it through? I have.
I have back issues. Sometimes I wonder how I will stand to preach. As soon as I step into the anointing for any given task, grace is released and, many times, all pain disappears. I am lost in His presence and the anointing.
Oh, to stay in that posture, all the time!
When the circumstance happens, rather than run from it, embrace it. That is another way to cooperate with grace. When we do this, we are postured to receive it in copious amounts.
Queen Esther received grace on a number of levels when she accepted her special assignment to help save the Jewish population in Susa. She received unmerited favor with the king’s household and the king.
Jesus Himself received grace to be able to withstand the brutal lashings and the cross. He cooperated with grace by accepting the assignment.
God’s mercy and grace to us as sinners by sending Jesus, so our sins can be blotted out and we can inherit eternity, is the biggest grace we can inherit. This is a huge, priceless gift! I see grace as a multifaceted diamond available to us for whatever we need.
The best part is that we don’t have to work for grace. It is there for us, children of the highest God!
Are you fueled by grace? When the whirlwind swirls around you, are you aware that His grace is for you? Are you fighting the giant of fear or change in your life? Have you tapped into the grace that not only maintains you but encourages and propels you forward? It’s there, in its entirety. Grab on with both hands—ready, set, liftoff!
Jesus, thank you for the gift of Your presence. Thank you that when we meet you in the place of Your presence, we bump into Your amazing grace. We thank you for your unending grace that saves us, empowers us, comforts us, teaches us, fuels us, provides for us and equips us to face sometimes difficult and uncertain times. Thank you, Jesus, for You are grace personified. We praise Your name. Amen.
Listen to this episode of Game Changers for God on the Charisma Podcast Network now. {eoa}
Curt Landry 
Michael L. Brown 
Rabbi Eric Tokajer 
