A Prayerful New Years Acknowledgement

“But He gives us more and more grace.  That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace to the lowly.”

James 4:5-6, Amplified Version

As we embark on a new year, I am moved to share with you a prayerful acknowledgement I recite every morning before my daily bible reading.

It is meaningful to me because it reminds me of both my own human fallibility and God’s great gift of love and redemption.     

“I am most assuredly flawed but infinitely loved by my Creator, whose grace knows no boundaries and whose mercy is the very lifeblood of my being and very existence both in this world and the Kingdom to come for all eternity.”

This precious gift that was bestowed on each and every one of us through our Savior’s crucifixion is not something that we have earned, nor is it something that we deserve.  It is a gift freely given by God. 

Because of this eternal truth, how can any one of us regardless of station in life, or circumstances both past and present not see one another through a lens of compassionate understanding and persevering forgiveness.

Matthew 18:21-34 is telling in that the degree of our freedom is without question linked to the freedom we give others.  Or simply put, and like the indebted slave in Matthew, as we forgive we ourselves our forgiven.

May the Lord touch your heart and help you to remove the barriers to total freedom and joy.