Today we’re doing a double header! So, we’ll be hearing from two participants!
“…not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship….” Eph. 2:9-10a
Not only can we not add to our worthiness through good deeds, but we contributed absolutely nothing to the creation of ourselves in the first place! We are the very invention of God and He completes our physical creation with a spiritual birth that is entirely His doing. From start to finish, we are God’s.
There was a time in my life where I thought I was my own. I believed that my life, actions, thoughts and words should be at my disposal. That I should be able to choose what was comfortable, pleasurable and fun and dispose of the rest. Many days I still fight these beliefs in the flesh. But the very humbling thought now dwells in my heart that all of that corruption was from the Evil one. 
We have been bought with a price and called to glorify God in our bodies. Not only that, before we ever realized God’s redemptive plan for our lives, our debt was paid in full. It was now a choice we had to make to lay down our stubborn desires to perceive life as ours and acknowledge that it really is His.
And for this purpose, Paul tells us, “To live is Christ.” When we truly believe that we have contributed nothing noble to who we are, but that it has all been the free giving of Jesus Christ, we will know and begin to act as if Christ is life itself. He really is.
~Hannah S
What Does God’s Grace Feel Like?
I guess I should tell you about a few days ago when I was sinning. I was lying in bed thinking all sorts of things I knew I shouldn’t be thinking. The Holy Spirit was convicting me and I knew God was offering me grace, the desire and power to do His will. In this case, His will was to repent and get free. I thought, “Why doesn’t God give me so much grace that it is easy to stop this train of thought and start meditating on scripture?” The Holy Spirit answered that God’s grace is sufficient but it is my choice whether or not I will respond to it or reject it. He will give enough grace, but he will not give more than we can reject. But there is a secret to getting an extra shot of grace, “For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble”. One way to be humble is to confess that you are sinning to someone else and ask them to pray for you. 
This really works for me! I realized I was not doing well fighting by myself so I reached over for my phone and texted a good friend who has agreed to pray for me in such times. This is just one step in the battle, but that day it was a big step and helped me get back to basking in the light and enjoying the presence of the Lord. Meditating on this chapter at this time in my life has been perfect. I am so grateful for the Journey Challenge and that I decided to be part of it with you all!
So, what does grace feel like? In this situation it felt like an escape route. Once I asked a friend who was going through a hard time, “What does grace feel like?” and she said it felt like peace. What does it feel like for you now? Listen. Accept.
I’d really like to be able to say that my sin is “in time past”, but oh well, I just pray that this testimony shows the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward me through Christ Jesus.
~Esther
Esther, thank you for sharing! Be encouraged! One day, we truly will stand before our Lord and be able to say with confidence, “My sins are in the past”.