“I wasn’t the one at fault. If he hadn’t said what he said, I wouldn’t have become angry. I was actually pretty patient for much of the conversation.” These are the arguments I was giving myself.

Isn’t it interesting. Rather than appealing to the mercy of the Lord in the face of my sin, what I actually do instead is function as my own defense lawyer and present a list of arguments for my own righteousness.  The theology behind the defense is that my greatest problem is outside of me, not inside of me.  In so arguing, I’m telling myself that I don’t really need to be rescued by the Lord’s mercy.  No, I’m telling myself that what I need to be rescued from is that sinner in the room who caused me to respond as I did.

What’s actually true is that when I come to the Lord after I’ve blown it, I’ve only one argument to make.  It’s not the argument of the difficulty of the environment that I am in.  It’s not the argument of the difficult people that I’m near.  It’s not the argument of the good intentions that were thwarted in some way.  No, I have only one argument.  It’s in Psalm 51:1. Coming to the Lord with one appeal, mercy.

I’ve no other defense.  I’ve no other standing. I’ve no other hope.  I can’t escape the reality of my biggest problem - me! So I appeal to the one thing in my life that’s sure and will never fail.  I appeal to the one thing that guaranteed not only my acceptance with God, but the hope of new beginnings and fresh starts.  I appeal on the basis of the greatest gift I ever have and ever will be given.  I leave the courtroom of my own defense, I come out of hiding, and I admit who I am. But I’m not afraid, because I’ve been personally and eternally blessed.  Because of what Jesus did, God looks on me with mercy.  It’s my only appeal.

-Whiter than snow : Paul David Tripp

Psalm 51:1

Lord, humble me. Show me who I am in relation to all that You are.

I long for the grace of God to be so engraved on our minds and hearts that we will be freed from a lifetime of attitudes, misconceptions, and independence which keep us from appropriating His grace in ALL its sufficiency.

God’s grace not only delivers from the penalty of sin, but it is also sufficient to deliver you from the power of sin.

Deliverance from the power of sin comes as you cease your striving in the flesh and cast yourself in dependence upon Him.  When you are dependent upon Him, you will find His grace is always sufficient.

The pleasures of sin endure only for a season, and then comes the barrenness of winter.  But because of grace, spring can come.

Could a person who has sinned really know the joy of serving God again or would they be denied for the rest of their lives?

Under the law they would be.  They would have been stoned.  But not under grace.  Grace covers.  Grace grants new beginnings.  I’m not saying that we can always serve Him in the same way or capacity.  Certain leadership roles, such as being an elder come at a high cost. However, sin repented of, confessed, and forsaken does not leave us in limbo as far as serving God.

-Lord, I need grace to make it today: Kay Arthur

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.

Be intentional in striving toward holiness.

Your kindness leads me to repentance
Your goodness draws me to your side
Your mercy calls me to be like you
Your favor is my delight.

Everyday I awaken my praise
Pour out a Song from my heart
You are good and your mercy is forever.

sin reigns in death & grace reigns in righteousness to eternal life.

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

habbakkuk 2:3

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains on scales and the hills in a balance? Who has measured the spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did He consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop of bucket and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
Isaiah 40:12-15

To whom then will you liken God, for what likeness compare with him?

As I crown You with glory, engrave Your name upon my heart.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Romans 12:16

Humble me Lord. You came to humanity and have associated yourself with us. What i can do for my fellow brethren is nothing compared to what you have done for me. Allow me to be like you. Each person is precious in your sight. Help me to see like you do. Break me Lord.

“In the garden of Eden, sin was man wanting to be like God.  Sin is man saying, “I don’t need you, God. I can be my own God.” Sin is independence from God. It wasn’t until I defined sin that I was able to see and understand why Jesus must be God, Lord, Master and Ruler in my life and heart.  Before, I had asked Jesus to be my personal savior, but I never surrendered my will and desires and life to Him. I was still occupying the throne.  I see now that that was not true repentance, and unless we repent we cannot have salvation because sin is our saying that we will run the show without God. When we come to Jesus in repentance, we are saying that we can’t do things our way, that He must have His way, and we are willing to allow Him to be in complete control.”

- Lord, I need grace to make it today. Kay Arthur

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

“We reflect what we revere, to our own ruin or to our own redemption.”