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Growing in Grace

In my walk with the Lord, I am in constant conversation with the Father. I'm someone who goes to the grocery store and talks to God about the produce; or driving to or from work, I'll talk to Him about my day; or I'll be in the middle of something frustrating and just talking to God through it. 

But the word, "conversation" implies a two way street of talking. And it's true, I often hear God talk back. It may be the stillness in chaos. It may be the sense of needing to do something that wouldn't make sense in my natural/logical mind. And sometimes, I hear the audible voice of God so clearly that I can't deny it's Him.

Today, in the middle of the day, I was just going about my routines and heard clear as day, "Grow in grace."

So, first off, let's be clear: I have received a ton of grace from the Father BUT I am not at all graceful. Physically and emotionally, I am a hot mess. Albeit a fun hot mess with coffee, glitter and Jesus, but still a hot mess. Yes, yes, I can hear my therapist and spiritual parents being like, "Don't claim messiness over yourself and you're being a bit hard on yourself." But ya know, let's just call real, real, okay? 

So, I repeat: Fun hot mess with coffee, glitter and Jesus. Okay? Okay.

But upon pondering, growing in grace is really about my lacking grace. Grace for myself, grace for others, grace for my season, grace upon grace. Growth implies something is needed. But even the word "Grace" itself implies something is needed. 

See, grace is all about getting something you don't deserve. To grow in grace, I have to understand I need grace to give grace. I need to accept grace to grow in grace. 

One does not grow in something that they have met the pentacle of.

In 2 Peter 3:18 it says to "Grow in grace." Context in the Bible is often crucial to understanding and the context of that chapter as a whole is talking about being Heaven minded. Being ready for Heaven. Preparing and walking Heaven bound.

What does that tell me? That growing in grace is a constant process. Heaven is the point of completion and I would even argue then, that it's only complete because the author and finisher of our faith is Jesus; and He, Himself, defines grace in it's completion as His giving life over death is the purest and highest form of grace. But I digress. 

In this season of life, I am becoming more rooted in who I am and who God has called me to be, but growing in grace allows me to make room for mistakes, mine and others. It is actually the opposite of claiming ill on myself. It actually allows even more room for depth, compassion and kindness. It allows for a genuineness of love.

So, absolutely, I am a fun hot mess with coffee, glitter and Jesus. That's a fact. But all the more room for God to do His work and help me grow in grace.



 

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