Amazing Grace

"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

How many of you started singing this song when you read the words? This song has been a cry to God when I’m feeling unworthy.. because I know I have been gifted with a grace that is amazing and pure. When we receive that grace from our loving Father, our lives transform. We become a new creature, but we have to work at growing that ever so important relationship with our God. Becoming a Child of God does not automatically exempt us from sin’s grasp. If anything, it gets more difficult to resist. Our enemy knows our weaknesses. It is not a joke or a fairy tale. He knows, and he will use every trick to get us to fall and lose our hope in God.

Our battle comes in when we have to fight. We are given a list of protection to wear in Ephesians 5, and we do have to fight. I fully believe there is spiritual warfare happening over every person who claims the name of Christ. The closer you get to God, the dirtier the enemy fights. When we call on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, it is our responsibility at that point to turn our back on the ways of the world.

1 John 2:15-17 (NASB)

¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

This is, at least for me, so very difficult. My mind knows the right thing to do in every situation. My silly heart gets me in trouble because I get lonely and want companionship. Then my silly heart gets my mind thinking that “it will be okay” if I do just this one little thing. It won’t hurt anyone. No one will know. You know what? I know. And my Jesus knows. And it hurts me and my Jesus is hurt by my actions as well.

James 4:4 (NASB)

⁴ You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We cannot be sitting on the fence, or hopping from one side to the other. We have to take a stand for our faith and our beliefs. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been told to “lower my standards” so I can get a guy. The scary part? It’s been guys who have told me this!!! So, what does that say about their belief in their own gender? A bunch of no good boys playing men? Yep, pretty much. At least, that’s the way I see it. We have to be stronger than that – and I’m not talking to just women out there! You men.. don’t lower your standards for a pretty girl who is.. just that. Another pretty face. She has no substance, no beliefs, no standards.

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

I LOVE this verse. Love it. It is also the verse that kills me every day. Honesty check.. I do great for several days, then a random thought blows me off course. If I don’t catch it, or turn it immediately over to God, then that thought becomes two thoughts. And two become four. And eventually I’m doing the things I promised God and myself I wouldn’t do anymore. And I’m ashamed, because I know what I have to do, what armor I need to defend myself against an attack, and what weapon I need to go on the offensive. I pray, and I cry out for Jesus to save me from myself. Because I, Julie, am my own worst enemy.

Thank the good Lord Jesus that I have grace. That GRACE is available to everyone, if you will just reach out and take it.