Grace in the Little Things

 

Do you know what grace is? In the big, grand scheme of things it is what Jesus did for us on the cross. We didn't do anything to deserve it. We didn't do anything to earn it. But Jesus did it anyway. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us:

We don't deserve eternity in Heaven with the Father. We didn't do anything to deserve it. We didn't do anything to earn it. And yet, He sent his Son to die for the sins of the world so that we might come to know Him. To me, that's grace in the big things. 

Today I want to share about grace in the little things. 

Because I saw grace in the little things today.

If you go back to some of my older posts, you'll know that my goal for 2022 is "More of God".

It's not a catchphrase. It's not a slogan I'm wearing like a banner over my head. 

I want to learn more about God, to deepen my relationship with Him, to study His Word more, to learn more about who I am in Him. We are close to the end of my journey through Experiencing God and I have learned so much not just about God but about the type of personal relationship I need to have with Him. Because Experiencing God is teaching me that that's where it all starts. How will I hear His voice if I'm not in close, personal relationship with Him? How will I know His heart? How will I best serve Him and share Him if I don't know His plans because our relationship is not what it should be? 

I've been journaling throughout Experiencing God. But most of my journaling has been in response to the three questions posed at the end of each day of the weekly studies. So I want to begin a prayer journal. And only God could've led me to Faith Womack's Youtube Channel yesterday. She had some amazing prayer journal suggestions and tips and even some resources on inexpensive supplies to help build on your prayer journal. 

HANG ON.

This year I felt started off strong. I was going to do the Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble and even go through the Bible Recap study guides available to me through my church. Somewhere in late February or early March I fell off. Again. This happens each year I make an attempt to read through the Bible. I just can't find a plan that suits me. I can't find a plan that I can faithfully stick to. And if I want more of God this year, isn't really getting into His Word one of the best ways?!

A conversation with a dear church friend a few weeks ago made me think that falling off the wagon didn't have to be viewed as failure on my part. Surely, God doesn't really care if my Bible reading starts January 1st and ends on December 31st! So I made the commitment that I would give it another shot this year. If my goal is to read the Bible through the year then that goal doesn't have to be the same as everyone else's. Now it's time to find a plan that works for me.

Let's go back to Faith Womack now. I explored several of her prayer journal videos. Some of her Bible journaling videos. Some videos about Bible commentaries. Then I found the video on her Grace Bible Reading Plan (this link will take you to her reading plan itself). I didn't recall her mentioning in the video if it was a 365 day reading plan, just that she had created her own Bible reading plan. I did really like the idea that she combines books that she feels will compliment and/or contrast each other throughout her reading plan. So I bought it. I downloaded it. And I printed it off. 

Across the top it says: 270 DAY BIBLE READING PLAN. 

Right below that it says: THE GRACE PLAN: THERE'S ROOM FOR GRACE IN THIS SCHEDULE. 

I thought it was interesting. 270 days? How long would that take me if I read faithfully each day? 

So I was curious. I pulled up Google. I typed into the search bar: "What day of the year is it?"

Today Tuesday, April 5, 2022 is ...

Day 95

Day of the year is a number between 1 and 365 (in 2022), January 1 is day 1.
After today 270 days are remaining in this year.

If you don't see what I see, I want you to study the image really hard. I want you to really let it sink in. Do you see it? In case you don't, let me show you. Today is April 5, 2022. It is the 95th day of the year. 

After today 270 days are remaining in this year.

I'm tearing up right now just reading that again. Because when I saw it the first time, I felt God whisper to my heart: My child, you have not failed me. I was determined to love you. I pursued you. My greatest desire is a love relationship with you. I know your heart. I know that you have been reminding yourself of My love and pursuit of you on a daily basis. I am with you.

Faith Womack's Grace Bible Reading Plan is a 270 day plan. So even though I fell off after a few months into the year, her plan allows me time to still complete reading the Bible through the year. There's no way Faith Womack could've known any of that or that I could until I downloaded the reading plan. It was God. 

That's God's grace for me in the little things. He knows my heart and that I want to read the Bible this year. He knows that even when I messed up the beginning of the year that I wanted to start over. And today He gave me the grace to do that. 

Don't just look for God's grace in the big things. Look for His hand at work in the little things too.