Evidence of Grace

Excuse this post as it is a little self-serving.  Perhaps it will encourage you in some way, but I need to ponder on these things to help me get in that place of wonder and amazement of God’s grace again.  You see, the seasons of life tend to shift us from one emotion to the next and we find ourselves caught up in some kind of whirlwind of dismay and confusion.  Sometimes it lasts only a short while and at other times it seems to linger beyond the ridiculous.  But this week has been one of those weeks where my focus has shifted and I can feel the troubling effects of it.

A long time ago I was listening to C.J. Mahaney teach about a very valuable skill he has learnt over time.  He describes it as being aware of the ‘Evidence of Grace”.  He does this by forcing himself to not get carried away with the dramas of life and focus on the troubles around him, but rather consciously seek and dig for the evidence of God’s grace around him.  Sometimes it’s an easy find but at other times it takes some digging!  He would walk around his church campus and be on the look out for evidence of God’s grace and celebrate it by worshipping Jesus.  What an awesome skill to learn.

Over time I have tried to incorporate this into my own lifestyle.  Sometimes I have done it well, but at other times I have been so caught up in the trials and troubles in front of me that I forgot and consequently suffered the consequences.  So, today I sit at my desk still a little weary about what is in front of me and the trials of the past few weeks and I naturally want to stew over them and dwell on how it all stinks and how hard it is to keep going.  But my spiritual man is screaming to drag my attention from those distracting circumstances to what Jesus is doing around me.  I must move into the attitude of gratitude and celebrate the evidences of God’s amazing grace!

So here I go…Over the past 3 weeks I have seen satan kick up a stink about what is happening at CityWest Church.  He has been working overtime to try and stop this move of God and generate disunity, discontent and discouragement.  Why do I see this as evidence of grace?  BECAUSE WE ARE STILL STANDING AND WE WILL FIGHT ON!  Thank You Jesus!

More pieces of evidence are the changing lives I am seeing.  While some are running and hate the way we are going, I cannot stop praising Jesus for the new converts and the joy they have in their new-found love for Jesus.  This is what it’s all about!  I never get sick of seeing this.  What an amazing proof of God’s grace at work.  Thank You Jesus!

I also celebrate the fact that we will be baptizing five adults in two weeks and I can’t wait.  In the midst of hardship God has been abundantly gracious to bring these new souls into His Kingdom and into our Church.  I will have the joy of baptizing my baby sister (Sorry Lydz, even though you are 25, you’re still my baby sister) and this is beyond what I could’ve ever imagined.  Yet more evidence of grace.  Thank You Jesus!

Hold on, I’ve got more…Jesus has revived my hope and expectation of revival.  Yep, I still believe we will see it in our lifetime and be used mightily by God to extend the fame of His Name and expand His Kingdom.  I am desperate for His presence and hungry for His in-filling.  My zeal has erupted again and I cannot stop what God has begun.  The critics will always be there, but my God is louder than any voice of men.  Yes, this evidence of grace is one that I needed to remember and celebrate.  Thank You Jesus!

I cannot end without celebrating the evidence of grace God has shown me in giving me a wife and children that are beyond any dream I could’ve had.  Blessing upon blessing and grace upon grace.  Who am I that I should deserve such a family?  What a spectacular piece of evidence of God’s amazing grace to a man so undeserving.  I could not do this without them.  Thank You Jesus!

Ok, now it’s your turn.  No matter what you are going through I am sure you could spot at least 5 evidences of grace.  But don’t just see them, worship Jesus because of them.  Give Him glory and honour and praise for His abundant grace.  Watch your mood shift and your emotions lift.  This is truly a gem of a skill to learn and apply as we go through this life of ups and downs.  Don’t miss it, GOD’S GRACE IS EVERYWHERE!