For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 NLT

We are a nation that is all about freedom.  For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. Yet as a nation we seem to be losing our freedom and becoming enslaved to actions, attitudes and emotions that are destructive to our families, our neighborhoods, our cities and even our nation. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  It isn’t just alcohol, drugs and all forms of immorality but also violence in attitude and actions. What is ironic is the more someone asserts his or her self-centered so called freedom, the more he or she becomes enslaved to their own sin. Look at what is called freedom today, abortion, civil unrest, verbal hate and swearing and slander beyond messure. But there is a prescription for freedom, it is the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. So if the Son of God sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 NIV. This freedom of grace is not a belief system; it is a life that penetrates the very foundation of our emotions and thoughts, it is called a new creation. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Today enjoy your freedom of grace that has been given to you through Jesus the Christ. Let your day be free in grace so that you know your old habits and addiction are no longer a definition of who you are or were. Your freedom in Christ will bless you and bring enjoyment to everyone around you.  Enjoy!

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Psalm 69:6 NIV

Thinking about ourselves first seems to be what is common to us naturally.  But what is natural to grace is the awareness of others in our emotions, our thinking and our desires that wants to inspire them.  The living gift of grace in Jesus Christ changes what is common to us naturally so that we are now aware of the impact our words, our tones, our expressions and even our desires have on those who are around us. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord. No one is put to shame when attitudes of grace are heard and seen.  Today, rejoice knowing the impact you have on your family, your friends, your co-workers, your church and even those who do not like you because of the power of our Lord’s grace in you. O LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Your attitude and actions can rekindle hope and bring about a joy that is absolutely renewing.  Ask the Lord to let the life of his grace have its way in you and you will have an awesome day.  Enjoy!

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.  Psalm 66:18-20 NLT

Grace is God’s gift to us so that sin no longer has the power to destroy our emotions, our intellect or our relationships.  Unconfessed sin brings about a condemnation concerning ourselves and others. In that condition our desires, our goals and our hopes that would be expressed through prayer are not listened to by our Lord. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  The beauty of grace in Jesus the Christ is the freedom to confess our sin and to live without sin as the director of our thoughts and emotions.  When we are living in grace we will always find our joy in God and knowing He paid attention to our prayer. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Today may his grace bring to you the joy of praise, the joy of thanksgiving and even the joy of delighting in the Lord.  Let his love overwhelm you in how you see yourself and it will naturally flow through you to everyone around you. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.  This is a very good new day; our Lord loves the words of your prayer. Enjoy!

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.  Proverbs 20:11 NLT

What we call character is what either builds or destroys relationships.  Character is more than just a family name; it is the definition of our life. Even children are known by the way they act.  Wounded emotions can take individuals down roads to adultery, divorce, drunkenness, slander, unforgivness and survival modes of every kind.  Here families are injured and broken, businesses fail and communities are in disarray.  God’s grace given in Jesus Christ is much more than saving someone so that they may go to heaven someday.  Grace creates a new nature through the Holy Spirit, it is described as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT. Today let yourself experience the life of God’s grace given to you through Jesus the Christ.  His character is now yours, right now in the place where you find yourself.  His blessing is now yours and you can be the blessing of God to your family, your business, your neighborhood, your church and your community. Get your will involved in His grace and you will have a character that will bring about a good day. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and whether it is right.  Enjoy!

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.  This includes you who were once far away from God.  You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.  Colossians 1:20-22 NLT

Many times through our life we will hear someone say, "If God is so good why does he let bad things happen?"  Well, bad things happen because that is the nature of sin in which our world exists. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  It is while we are in this condition that God poured out his grace for us through the blood of Jesus the Christ on the cross. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.  Grace brings us to life so that we may have the faith to trust, enjoy and love God and be a blessing to each other. Grace by nature encourages, trusts and blesses, therefore relationships are strengthened and refreshed. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Today may you be willing to be renewed in how you feel and think because of the grace of God that has been given to you. Do not let your old habits from your old nature have any place to express themselves through you on this day.  May your very presence bring peace to all who come in contact with you.  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  Enjoy!