Bathing in Grace

Hello, tender friends, and happy Monday!

I spent the second half of last week in one of those bubbles that God places around you when He’s sending you messages. Those warm safe bubbles that eventually dissipate and return you to the “normal world.” But how lovely it was while it lasted.

I’ve always known that grace is unearned. I’ve sung along with all the same songs you probably have, including this one:

It started out when I took my dear blogging friend’s advice and simply prayed, “God, what do you have for me? What do you want me to get out of today?” (Don, I’m talking about you! I’d like to share your post on Thursday if that’s okay with you.)

Within probably about 15 minutes of praying that prayer, I felt the Spirit of the Lord descend on me. Warmth and love flowed throughout my body.

I had mundane tasks to complete-washing dishes, feeding the chickens, picking tomatoes, etc. But I completed my tasks with an uncommon level of high energy and joy.

I didn’t hear God say anything, but this overwhelming urge to pray for things that I haven’t earned came over me. My spirit initially resisted.

I know, I know. I’ve read all the same devotionals as you have. I’ve listened to the same sermons. Even Christian writer friends of mine have written on this topic. But it wasn’t until I asked the Lord what he wanted for me that day that this visceral revelation of unearned grace smoldered in my spirit.

I prayed, “Lord, I open myself up to the gifts you desire to give me that I have not earned.”

For lack of a better explanation, I felt a dome descend upon me then, like a cloud of glory. The Lord reminded me that we are all to enter heaven as little children. But instead of telling me to have the faith of a child, He showed me that children don’t feel indebted to the world or pressure to earn their way in it.

Babies come into the world expecting to be loved and cared for even if though they have “nothing” to offer the world. They don’t have jobs. They’re pure consumers – of breast milk, clothing, diapers, etc.

Yet parents feed and clothe them and dote on them. And that’s what God showed me he wants to do for me.

I feel like this is a risky thing to admit. Please don’t misunderstand me – I’m not advocating for excessive consumerism. I live in a first world country. I have everything I need in life. I’m not about to quit my job or anything.

I also feel like I should tell you that I have received direct words from the Lord in his audible voice with messages like, “I’m not asking you to do this for (insert the name of a particular person that I didn’t really want to help), I’m telling you to do it for me.” So there are definitely times that God expects me to put my ego aside and just do whatever He tells me to do.

I don’t want to get overly fluffy. But I received multiple confirmations last week after this experience of what I would call personal revelation. That’s why I’m sharing it now instead of sitting on it.

I have gone from being a woman who initially resisted this idea to embracing it fully. I’m not limiting my prayer life to what I have “earned on my own,” because the idea that we’ve ever achieved anything on our own is just a myth. I have gotten excited the past few days as I continue to pray this prayer.

May the grace fall like rain upon you as it has been on me.

Thank you for stopping by today, and thank you for sharing!

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