Grace Active

Taken from "The Valley of Vision"

Lord Jesus, Great High Priest,
Thou hast opened a new and living way
by which a fallen creature can approach these with acceptance.
Help me to comtemplate
the dignty of thy Person,
the perfectness of thy sacrifice,
the effectiveness of thy intercession.
O what blessedness accompanies devotion,
when under all the trials that weary me,
the cares that corrode me,
the fears that disturb me,
the infirmities that opress me,
I can come to thee in my need
 and feel peace beyond understanding!
The grace that restores is necessary to preserve,
lead, guard, supply, help me.
And here thy saints encourage my hope;
they were once poor and are now rich, bound and are now free,
tried and now are victorious.
Every new duty calls for more grace than I now possess,
but not more than is found in these,
the divine Treasury in whom all fullness dwells.
To thee I repair for grace upon grace,
until every void made by sin be replenished
and I am filled with all thy fullness.
May my desires be enlarged and my hopes emboldened,
that I may honour thee by my entire dependency
and the greatness of my expectation.
Do thou be with me, and prepare me for all
the smiles of prosperity, the frowns of adversity,
the losses of substance, the death of friends,
the days of darkness, the changes of life,
and the last great change of all
May I find thy grace sufficient for all my needs.

Communication is key!

Throughout life, we run into situations where we don't exactly see eye to eye with others, have personality conflicts, or even hurt by someone's actions. When that happens, humans generally begin avoidance strategies...I know I am guilty of that, too. Who likes confrontations or situations that could get ugly? Yet, time and time again I have found that if I bring the issue to the person it is with and try to talk it over... almost every time communication wins the day. Both parties are able to talk through it, and resolutions can be met.

This is obviously why the Word of God encourages us to do this. The Bible clearly teaches that if we have ought with a brother, we are to go to them. We are not to go to everyone else about it, or avoid them - we are to go to them - and talk it out. Remembering that our speech should always be "seasoned with grace."


Are you struggling with this issue today? Don't be anxious, just follow what the Bible teaches. If you are angry, are hurt, or have an issue with a brother... go and speak with him.

Matthew 5:22-24
²But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.