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Grace That Covers

What does “grace” mean to you personally — and have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve it?

Long suffering
Mercy given when undeserved
Unmerited favor
mercy and love
Grace means a sweet connection to God and His generous help. Very undeserved, in my humble opinion.
Strength to endure, yes I have felt like I didn’t deserve it
Unwarrented care
God’s influence upon my heart. When I am in need, God works upon situations, upon my heart to allow me to go through a situation.
By definition grace is unmerited. We can’t earn it and don’t deserve it
Kindness and mercy
Power from the Father
Unmerited favor
Grace means that I can face things that I didn’t think I could and I can still walk with the fruits of the Spirit.
Grace is the oil that makes it all work.
Help and support when we don't have the strength
Grace means being patient and allowing space to grow.
God filling the voids you can't fill
It means that God in his favor supplies me everything I need and more through his love. Yes. I have felt undeserving at times of deep trial.
God’s undeserving favor to me
Is a reminder of of forgiveness
Grace, to me, is the quiet strength of compassion. It’s the ability to move through life—with all its messiness and unpredictability—with dignity, kindness, and forgiveness.
To me, grace means his mercy and loving kindness. We don’t deserve it but that’s where it’s his goodness.
Strength given where I couldn’t have found it myself or mercy/love when I could not have earned it. I have never felt deserving, and I never will. That’s kinda the point though.
Love and help when I didn’t do anything do deserve it
The love that god gives
Unconditional love and support. And sometimes yes
Daily help
Grace is God’s love and consideration for us. I never feel like I deserve it, but it’s always there.
Grace is the undeserved love of God
Grace does not mean I feel good all the time but that God helps me to keep doing what’s right despite how I feel.
Grace is the delivery vehicle for God’s blessings
I think of God's grace as warm welcoming of forgiveness extended to me. Of course at times I have felt undeserving of his grace but I feel that I cannot let God down and must do my best to move forward
The strength, power, and love from God and Christ to go through and be faithful in difficulties for God’s glory.

Would I be willing to die for Jesus like he did for me? Do I have this kind of love for others?

Deuteronomy 6:5 Matthew 22:37 Mark 12:30 Luke 10:27

Thou shalt love God is a command; I am not just to obey or fear. “The heart” includes mind, will, desires, and intentions. "The soul" refers to the entire life, being, and breath. “Mind” means everything I have. Jesus lived His life with all his heart, soul, and mind.

Romans 3:23,24 Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty before God; all are missing the target of holiness. Jesus paid the cost even though we were guilty and undeserving. I am called to wholehearted obedience and love. When I fall short, God's grace meets me. I must be careful to not make repeated mistakes and abuse God's grace.

Grace That Covers Our Past

Hebrews 9:7,11,12,14,22 The past needed payment. The people of Israel had to make a sacrifice because they fell short. Jesus became the perfect mediator, the new high priest, and the final sacrifice. Grace doesn’t just cover, it cleanses.

Hebrews 9:9 This only granted forgiveness, not renewal or change. Jesus's sacrifice is more powerful as the son of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Jesus's blood covers my sins and anything else I need help with.

Are there momments in your past that you still feel ashamed of - even though God has already forgiven you?

Sometimes. Memories are like scars
Yeah. It’s hard to forgive yourself because even tho God forgets, we can’t.
Mainly ashamed of dumb choices.
Memories aren't erased, but sin is
It is very difficult to humanly forget.
Yes. Forgiven but memories still there.
Ashamed of actions that hurt others
Hard to believe I could do such a thing - repulsed by myself
Yes. Some things I feel shame regarding things that happened to me by others. God even has healing and grace for those
Yes, the memory of my negative past comes to my mind and it does trouble me even though God has forgiven me.
Emotional healing can lag behind even when forgiven by God, others and myself.
Remembering that I was ashamed of what someone else did to me, and didn’t tell someone.

Grace That Covers the Present and Weaknesses

What am I asking for specifically? I can ask for things that I lack or need more of. We have to ask because we are human. It’s not always in our nature as a human to be kind or put others first or be in complete control of ourselves. On my own it’s not posssible, but with God's grace, I can.

Luke 9:23

When you're asking for Grace, what are you really asking for? Patience, love, peace, long suffering, understanding, forgiveness, divine assistance, wisdom, his favor, strength, kindness, compassion, guide me through the day, God's oil, God's presence, humility.

Have you ever felt pressure to “have it all together” spiritually, even when you didn’t? How do you think grace speaks to that pressure?

Yes. God doesn't push, he guides.
Yes, and it helps me know that god loves me no matter what
Yes, I think especially in “Church of God” culture
Yes. Pressure is in our daily lives, and it surrounds us all but grace helps
Yea his grace helps us
Yes, and you have to have grace for yourself. We’re human
Yes. Grace reminds me that our God is a merciful God.
Yes, grace reminds us that we are human and make errors, but he still guides us
Yes, but then I realize that when I am weak, God is my strength
Definitely have… God can take us through things that we as humans are afraid to do
yes, he helps lead me through my battles
Yes by growing up in church, but God reminds me of his support and love to me no matter when I may falter
God is the grace
We put too much pressure on ourselves that others don’t necessarily do
It provides us the assurance that God is on our side.
To a degree, yes. Grace helps me to give myself room to grow and to be human.
Grace is god
Giving the same grace i would give to others, to myself.
I feel pressure a lot and God helps me remember I don’t have to have it all together!
Doing our best God doing the things we cant
Yes, but he tells me it’s ok I’m fine
Pressure is human, god is divine
Grace is sufficient
Realizing when I am weak, He is strong I see time and time His grace that gives me the ability to go through trials.
Yes, and not to submit to a lie to protect myself.
It reassures that God understands struggles and wants me to come to Him instead of trying to do it on my own
every. single. thing
Yes, thankfully God knows my heart and will guide me to fulfill his will for my life by his grace.

Deuteronomy 31:8 Even if I don't have it all together, God does. Give God a chance to help out!

Grace That Covers the Future

God's plans are perfect, even if mine are not.

Jesus meant to save humanity, not just those in the present. God is 100% committed to seeing me continue forward with grace and strength to the end. I am never going to have all the answers for life. God doesn’t demand a perfect plan, but he offers the ability to trust.

What are you most worried about when it comes to your future? My grandkids, a good example to others, making heaven, geopolitics, the unknown is scary, everything, getting injured, having everything work out, my kids, safety, loving, souls knowing God, my mom getting saved, my finances, family, not following my dreams, how i will turn out, reaching my goals, spouse and children, careful, change positive impact,good relationships, will i have enough money, child, sound mind, illness.

Do you feel like you have to put on a brave face for others?

2 Corinthians 12:9 I do not need to fake a lack of weakness before God. It's okay. God knows already and wants me to succeed. It can be hard to lean on God! There is grace if I fail again. We will always fall short; we are not perfect. God doesn't walk away when I fail, he draws near to help.

If you truly believed God’s grace was enough for your future, how would that change the way you live today?

Leave big decisions in His hands
Hakuna Matata
Not a care in the world
Have more joy and hope daily
I would not be as worried about anything
I would be more relaxed today.
Less worry.
I wouldn’t be scared to take more risks
No worries
Drawing closer and trusting Him more.
What a wonderful world
Joyfully, peacefully
Complete rest in him
Because of God’s grace I am sure I’ll be happy and content in the future
Less worry more vulnerability
I would worry less. Be more present in today and enjoy the moments more.
Not fear. Just send it
It will help me to live with confidence in Christ and trust that he will work all things for good.
With anticipation of the good gifts He has in store !
Worry less and live
With less worry
Stop over thinking
I guess I would worry less.
With assurance to go forth
More peace
No worries
would live in such a way that is peaceful and relaxed
Not worry so much about my kids.
Fearless
Confidence /assurance

What step can you take this week to live more freely in God’s grace? Dedicated time, trust, prayer, sing, spend more time with him, gratitude, lean on him, read, ask again, show god's love, living more in him, spend time talking to god, dive into gods word, obedience to god, rest in god, obey, peace, have devotions, depend on him, knowing him more, get outside, Bible, be more present, faith, ask.

In what ways could your past actually be part of your testimony — not your shame? Prayer, god delivers, help others, vulnerability, resulted in growth, proof it gets better, living for him, it's never too late, help people, warning, empathy, be relatable, to share the victory, redemption is possible, encouragement, compassion, power of god, hopeful.