Wow! 2020 is here. 2019 seemed to just fly by.
I just looked back at the last post I did, and it was clear back on March 21, 2019. My desire to write has been non-existent. While I think about it quite often, I just never do it. I’m not sure why. After Mari died, I wrote all the time. It felt like I constantly had things I needed to jot down and write out to express how I was feeling. Now, Mari’s been gone over 11 years. As a matter of fact, she would’ve turned 20 on December 29, just three days ago. 20 years old. Just WOW! It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, I gave birth to her, and 11 1/2 years ago, she was gone. While her life was so short, she made such a significant impact on so many people. She was one of the greatest blessings in my life, and I’ll be forever thankful that God allowed us to raise her for the short time she was here.
I purchased a few weeks back a devotional journal called 100 Days of Bible Promises. I’d decided to get this because I haven’t been doing my daily QT in quite some time. I thought this might be a good way for me to spend a little QT with God each day just to get me back into doing it again. It’s been sitting on my desk for December 18. I haven’t touched it until this morning. I decided it’s January 1 – a brand new year. Why not go ahead and begin this new year on the right track. So, I did Day 1 today. The title for this day is “His Grace Is Sufficient.” For me, the words for today’s devotional were precisely what I needed to hear and reinforce what I already knew:
Every day, every moment, God reaches into your life with His hand and grace to help you through all that you face. It’s His way of saying, “Be assured. I know you are weak, but I am strong. Rest in My power and let My grace take over where your efforts end.” There isn’t anything He can’t do or accomplish through you, so be glad and rejoice in knowing that wherever you lack, He is more than able!
Wow! So Powerful! Here’s the thing: God already knows I’m weak because I’m human with a sin-nature. No matter how hard I try, I will never be perfect. I’ll always make mistakes. I have flaws. However, we mustn’t focus on our mistakes or flaws. It’s in these mistakes that we must learn from them, and, as a result, we become a better person. God is already fully aware of who I am as a person and all the decisions/actions I’ll make/take in my life. There’s nothing that can or ever will be hidden from Him. HE KNOWS ALL!! When we remember this, we can accept ourselves for who we are. It’s in my imperfections that I truly grow as a person.
Here are today’s verses:
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT
May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 HCSB
And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. Acts 4:33 HCSB
“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. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Here’s what I wrote today:
Wow! I just keep coming back to that word – Wow! I haven’t done a quiet time in quite some time. I stopped doing it mostly because it takes me so much time. The words here today are quite powerful and an excellent reminder for God’s promises. We just need to remember them. I NEED to remember them!! Thank You, God, for the reminder. ❤
Peace. This is the word that comes to mind when we remember to be rest-assured of God’s promises for all of us. Yet, because we’re human, we tend to forget this, especially in those bleak moments. The moments where we are the lowest of lows.
Where would I be today if I’d never become a believer, especially after losing Mari? To be honest, it’s hard for me to imagine. To say her death was the most impactful event of my entire life would literally be a vast understatement. Yet, it’s was through God’s strength that I was able to get through it and heal. However, without being a believer, would I even be healed? Would I have the hope I have now? Would I be able to see that through her death I’ve been given so many blessings? I guess that’s the point. I have hope and peace because of Jesus and Him being my Savior. As it says above, “Rest in My power and let My grace take over where your efforts end.” Those are powerful words and ones to remember and live by.
