"Seems like all I could see was the struggle. Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past. Bound up in shackles of all my failures. Wondering how long is this gonna last. Then You look at this prisoner and say to me 'Son, stop fighting this fight, it's already been won'."
If you haven't heard this song, Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave (you heard me right ha.) then stop reading for just a minute and go listen to it here. Seriously, go NOW. (and then come back of course haha.)
It's so awesome how a song can uplift your spirit, change your attitude, and bring joy to a hardened heart. That's exactly what this song does for me. It reminds me of one word: grace.
To be completely honest, it wasn't until recently that I began to even scratch the surface on what grace means and what this word can offer to those who accept it.
Webster defines grace merely as: a virtue coming from God, among a list of other things. Lets break this down even further, what is a virtue: a beneficial quality.
So according to Webster, grace is: a beneficial quality, coming from God. Sounds simple enough for the average mind to comprehend, but how far Webster is from accurately defining this beautiful word.
How ashamed I am to say that for the majority of my life, I have accepted the word grace to mean just what is defined in our dictionary. Never taking the time to soak in and learn how life-changing this word can be for those who long to understand it.
So Grace.
How do we ever begin to seek the beauty in this five-letter word.
Ironically, I had to face the ugliness of my sins to comprehend the true beauty of grace. I've carried the weight of my sinful nature for so long. Constantly reminded of every ugly thought, every harsh and hurtful word, every evil act deliberately done, disobeying our heavenly Father and living for the world.
I stored these thoughts in the tiniest little box in the farthest corner of my mind. Doing my best to forget these ugly things and yet still carrying this weight of knowing I had done them. It's strange how our minds will allow us to do this...to block out the things we're most afraid of and attempt to erase them from our memory. But no matter how hard I would try to forget, I still felt this weight.
That weight kept me from experiencing Jesus and all His glory.
I always felt not good enough to receive God's love and kindness and really believed that I needed to work harder to win my Father's affection and admiration because of how sinful and ugly I was.
Friends, I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG!!!
Grace is not something to be earned, but instead is freely given to all who will receive it from Christ who died for our sins.
Neither you nor I have to work for this amazing gift. But I've come to realize that we must accept our weaknesses, come face-to-face with our sins and sinful ways, giving them over fully to God, to experience this gift like you could never even DREAM of!
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
We must confess our weaknesses to the Lord and let Him work in us. Once you give all that weight to Jesus, you look at His suffering on the cross in such a different light. The weight that I have carried around as baggage with me all these years, all that self pity and shame, was diminishing the significance of the cross and all the glory it represents.
If you're carrying around a weight or maybe like me, you've been carrying a weight with you for some time... of negativity, self pity, and shame for whatever it is that has happened in your life, know at this very moment, there IS a way to have that weight taken off your heart and your mind!
If this song is describing your life right now: Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past. Bound up in shackles of all my failures. Wondering how long is this gonna last.
Just know this to be TRUE: "Stop fighting this fight, it's already been won."
I can't even begin to describe the incredible feeling of giving 100% of my weaknesses and sin to Jesus. I feel a spirit inside of me that is so much more energetic and excited for life! Something I haven't felt in a long time and I can't help but share it with you.
You see that's what happens when Jesus fills your cup to overflowing. You can't help but share the news of how His grace has changed your life forever!!
Won't you experience this incredible feeling with me?
Father, thank you for your infinite love for us. We come to you with humble hearts, knowing that we have sinned, living for the world and not for You. We ask you Father to take this burden we've been carrying for far to long, knowing that You were always there to take it, but just waiting for us to ask for Your help. We need you now more than ever and we just pray that you come into our lives and transform us like we've never felt before. Fill us up with your presence and be with us, in every word that we speak, every thought that we think, and every action that we pursue. Lord thank you for Your grace that You so freely give to us. Let us show that grace to others in our daily walk with You.- Amen.
If I can pray for you or help you experience this gift that God wants so desperately to give to you, please leave me a comment or email me at: ae.ellingburg@gmail.com. I would consider it a blessing to help in any way that I can.
Use this picture as a reminder throughout the weekend that "He himself bore our sins" in His body on the cross, so that we may die to sins and live for righteousness, "by His wounds, we are healed." 1 Peter 2:24
Have a great weekend!
Until next time :)
-A
If you haven't heard this song, Redeemed, by Big Daddy Weave (you heard me right ha.) then stop reading for just a minute and go listen to it here. Seriously, go NOW. (and then come back of course haha.)
It's so awesome how a song can uplift your spirit, change your attitude, and bring joy to a hardened heart. That's exactly what this song does for me. It reminds me of one word: grace.
To be completely honest, it wasn't until recently that I began to even scratch the surface on what grace means and what this word can offer to those who accept it.
Webster defines grace merely as: a virtue coming from God, among a list of other things. Lets break this down even further, what is a virtue: a beneficial quality.
So according to Webster, grace is: a beneficial quality, coming from God. Sounds simple enough for the average mind to comprehend, but how far Webster is from accurately defining this beautiful word.
How ashamed I am to say that for the majority of my life, I have accepted the word grace to mean just what is defined in our dictionary. Never taking the time to soak in and learn how life-changing this word can be for those who long to understand it.
So Grace.
How do we ever begin to seek the beauty in this five-letter word.
Ironically, I had to face the ugliness of my sins to comprehend the true beauty of grace. I've carried the weight of my sinful nature for so long. Constantly reminded of every ugly thought, every harsh and hurtful word, every evil act deliberately done, disobeying our heavenly Father and living for the world.
I stored these thoughts in the tiniest little box in the farthest corner of my mind. Doing my best to forget these ugly things and yet still carrying this weight of knowing I had done them. It's strange how our minds will allow us to do this...to block out the things we're most afraid of and attempt to erase them from our memory. But no matter how hard I would try to forget, I still felt this weight.
That weight kept me from experiencing Jesus and all His glory.
I always felt not good enough to receive God's love and kindness and really believed that I needed to work harder to win my Father's affection and admiration because of how sinful and ugly I was.
Friends, I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG!!!
Grace is not something to be earned, but instead is freely given to all who will receive it from Christ who died for our sins.
Neither you nor I have to work for this amazing gift. But I've come to realize that we must accept our weaknesses, come face-to-face with our sins and sinful ways, giving them over fully to God, to experience this gift like you could never even DREAM of!
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
We must confess our weaknesses to the Lord and let Him work in us. Once you give all that weight to Jesus, you look at His suffering on the cross in such a different light. The weight that I have carried around as baggage with me all these years, all that self pity and shame, was diminishing the significance of the cross and all the glory it represents.
If you're carrying around a weight or maybe like me, you've been carrying a weight with you for some time... of negativity, self pity, and shame for whatever it is that has happened in your life, know at this very moment, there IS a way to have that weight taken off your heart and your mind!
If this song is describing your life right now: Haunted by ghosts that lived in my past. Bound up in shackles of all my failures. Wondering how long is this gonna last.
Just know this to be TRUE: "Stop fighting this fight, it's already been won."
I can't even begin to describe the incredible feeling of giving 100% of my weaknesses and sin to Jesus. I feel a spirit inside of me that is so much more energetic and excited for life! Something I haven't felt in a long time and I can't help but share it with you.
You see that's what happens when Jesus fills your cup to overflowing. You can't help but share the news of how His grace has changed your life forever!!
Won't you experience this incredible feeling with me?
Father, thank you for your infinite love for us. We come to you with humble hearts, knowing that we have sinned, living for the world and not for You. We ask you Father to take this burden we've been carrying for far to long, knowing that You were always there to take it, but just waiting for us to ask for Your help. We need you now more than ever and we just pray that you come into our lives and transform us like we've never felt before. Fill us up with your presence and be with us, in every word that we speak, every thought that we think, and every action that we pursue. Lord thank you for Your grace that You so freely give to us. Let us show that grace to others in our daily walk with You.- Amen.
If I can pray for you or help you experience this gift that God wants so desperately to give to you, please leave me a comment or email me at: ae.ellingburg@gmail.com. I would consider it a blessing to help in any way that I can.
Have a great weekend!
Until next time :)
-A
In many ways, I'm right there with you! When I really stop to think about the grace that has covered me... I'm overwhelmed. So blessed. LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog, lady!
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