Grace, unmerited favor. Webster’s Dictionary defines grace as: divine love and protection given to mankind by God; also a virtue granted by God.

"Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 4:8-11

Just as a river breaks off into creeks and streams, we should be an open channel for the Lord’s grace to flow freely through us.

Our hearts should be those instruments to allow God to work through us for His purposes. How open of a channel are we? When we are dealing with a family member who may not be treating us with the respect we feel we deserve or our gesture of kindness or act of love is not being received or reciprocated from a next door neighbor? When we are being obedient to those things the Lord is showing us to do, we have to follow through and leave the outcome to Him. Sometimes we will see the effort impact a life and other times we will not. But that does not mean that our efforts were in vain or that they come to nothing, we just have to trust the Lord with the outcome.

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

It seems easy to say "Okay, Lord, here I am ready and willing to be used as You see fit!" When those times come that He is in fact using us, it can seem like an extremely difficult task or it may even seem futile, useless, and pointless. Even when we don’t fully comprehend why something is taking place (or not taking place) or if it doesn’t make any sense, we must not lose heart and trust that He will indeed complete His work. Because He is our heavenly Father who cares for each of us the same, we can know that our heart inspired effort will not be unfruitful. By no means am I saying that the Lord brings confusion, if we do find ourselves in that place, we must take the situation to prayer. Only by our continual seeking and petitioning the Lord will we become more and more familiar with His voice and recognize when He is prompting us to be a vessel of Grace. His Voice becomes a quiet assurance that is deep within you and you just know it is something you must do without any question.

At times our streams may seem "mucky" and unclear, or seem that they are not flowing in any certain pattern, seemingly going nowhere. In those times we must remember to look to the Lord and be still as we wait on Him.

"To be still and know that He is God."
Psalm 46:10

Again, we have to believe that our efforts are not in vain. Again, we may never know the full impact we have had on a person’s life this side of Heaven. We just have to choose to be that willing vessel, that sure channel of His Divine Grace and leave the rest to Him.

All Scripture taken from: The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Zondervan Corporation and Kirkbride Bible Company, INC - 1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright: October 1, 2003

(Hearts for Christ Ministries is blessed to have Laurisa [Laurie] as an HFC Ministry Team Member!)