My Grace Needs Help

I've heard and sung about God's amazing grace all my life. Though we make mistakes and have not-nice attitudes and are so weak in our faithfulfulness to Him and His grace, He loves us so deeply anyway. Grace -- His unmerited favor -- is always helping us in our weaknesses. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) God's grace is a beautiful and powerful word that describes how He loves us deeply ANYWAY! And, with the grace we've been given -- it is grace we pay forward to others. Lord, have mercy! Speaking of my weaknesses -- in my "me-centered" world where I live by myself, where my friends are hand-picked and are of the same mindset as me because they are really nice and loving people -- I'm not challenged with my own grace. But then comes along an egotistical, boisterous, and way-too-loud-and-talkative guy who ruffles my peaceful feathers. Honestly, I think God is working on me more than that guy because I've found myself realizing my grace is polar opposite of God's grace. I've been having to have many "little talks with Jesus" throughout my day because I need His grace to show up in me for others. I’ve heard plenty of grace messages. But what has taught me the most? My own story and the stories of others who have fully experienced grace. Grace – given to us when we deserved a failing grade; grace that opened up career doors for us; the grace of our spouse and children. It was grace that we were spared from in that "almost" auto accident or horrific storm. Think about God’s GRACE in some of our Bible heroes. Moses, whose hot temper led to murder and rebellion against God, and David, who committed adultery and murder. Then turn to the New Testament where a former traitor, SAINT Peter, leads the Church, and a former “human rights abuser”, SAINT Paul, who became the author of one third of the New Testament. Indeed, God’s grace is amazing. We can never sink so far that God’s grace will not reach us. At the same time, GRACE does not leave us there. It raises us to new heights, causes us to demonstrate that grace to others in words and actions. It’s my prayer that we powerfully experience the grace effect in our lives so much so that no matter what has been done to us or who gets under our skin to the max, that we will choose grace for them -- making daily decisions to pour out grace to others as grace has been poured out to us. Those of us who know grace, also know we need to offer His grace that is in us -- to others. This is my prayer today -- you can join me if you realize your grace could use some amping up too! Lord, I am amazed by Your grace in my life. Help me see, understand, and be overwhelmed by Your grace again. Help me to not simply comprehend Your grace, but live it and give it to others. Please forgive me for my lack of grace. Help me today to extend grace to those around me -- wherever I am. Lord, please help me to be as free with grace to others – as your grace is to me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.