God longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.

Isiah 30:18

Grace means getting what we need instead of what we deserve-and God offers such grace to us freely. His grace is unconditional, unlimited, and also unending. And as today’s verse shows, God longs to be gracious to us.

What has grace done in our lives? God’s saving grace has taken all our guilt [Ephesians 1:7-8]. Salvation is based not on our works, but on God’s grace and mercy through the death of Christ on the cross. And grace reshapes our lives daily, freeing  us from our pasts to live triumphantly in the future. God’s grace takes away the hurt in our lives and helps in time of need [Hebrews 4:16].

Although God’s grace is freely offered, accepting it is our choice. God never forces grace on us; we can choose instead to live with our guilt. If we do, we may develop a bitter spirit [Hebrews 10:15]. A real key to receiving grace is to be humble enough to admit we need it [James 4:7].

What can we do with grace now that we have it? We can learn to be gracious to others, as God has been to us. We can also determine to share the story of God’s grace.

Thought:  I will walk grace today.

                     I will talk grace today.

                     I will accept God’ grace today.