Several of us have written about our Word of the Year. I shared last month about my word for 2016, which is consistent.
BUT for the last two-ish weeks, the word GRACE has bombarded me from lots of different directions.
It started with me doing a word study on it. The Greek word (charis) 
appears 157 times in the New Testament. Not all of those are translated grace, however. Other words used for charis are favor, credit, and thanks.
While I was in the midst of my study–it took several days–my husband asked this question at the dinner table: “What is grace to you?” We discussed it for two evenings.
Then our pastor spoke about grace in his sermon the next Sunday. Someone posted a meme about grace. The choir sang about grace. And on and on.
When a word comes at me like that, I try to pay attention. Sometimes it takes longer than others for me to get the message.
I remember as a teenager, I learned the definition of grace was
- God’s
- Riches
- At
- Christ’s
- Expense
But grace was apparent before Christ paid for it. Luke tells us that “the grace of God was upon Him [Jesus].” (Luke 2:40)
So I headed to dictionary.com. There are fifteen definitions for grace. Several definitely do not apply. But here are the few that do:
- favor or goodwill
- a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior
- mercy; clemency; pardon
- favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity
So now I’m wondering if I’ll receive grace/favor in something coming my way, or if I’ll need to show grace to someone else. Either way, I covet it your prayers.
Now it’s your turn…
- Have you ever been bombarded with a word or phrase?
- What does grace mean to you?
Blessings,
Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre. Even when she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, reading or writing are not far from her mind. She is president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.
Ginger,
That is the word I had chosen for this year.
Grace is something I can’t earn or achieve.
Throughout my life I’ve always tried to, “be” this or “do” that, hoping I’ll find favor by God. Yet I really don’t need to.
Grace is something our LOVING God gives to us just to show us His deep love.
All we have to do is accept it!
I always thought of grace as knowing and accepting I’m not perfect, but especially knowing that no one else is. Expecting perfection from others is exhausting. :)
You are so right, Marylin. All we have to do is accept it.
That is so true, Jill. Expecting it of ourselves is also self-destructive. We, well at least it was true for me, degrade ourselves when something isn’t perfect. Children allowed me to realize that life doesn’t have to be perfect, according to MY standards. The only perfect thing to ever grace this world was Jesus.
Unmerited favor
And so undeserved. Thanks Merrillee. :)
One year, when my husband and I were trying to make a big decision, the word “revelation” kept coming to us. The group Third Day sang their song “Revelation” and it played constantly on the radio. We smiled every time we heard the song because we knew God was speaking to us. We did make a decision and it turned out to be the correct one. God is so wonderful to us all.
That is so awesome, mimi. Thanks for commenting.
Grace for me has always been summed up in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”
I am full of weakness, so I definitely need God’s grace and power. Every day.
I’m currently being bombarded by a song: Be Thou my Vision. It’s come up in four of the novels I’ve read over the last month . . . there’s got to be a message there :)
Sometimes it takes me a while to get the message. Sometimes, I have to stop and be still, so I can hear God and what He’s trying to say to me. It’s not always easy.
The year my mother-in-law went to be with Jesus, I was pregnant with our third child and our other two were under 4. My husband and I were in our mid-twenties and although she had been battling cancer for close to a decade we just weren’t prepared for her sudden turn towards eternity. The word that got me through her last short weeks in early spring and the rest of the year now belongs to my daughter who was born that fall, it’s her middle name, Hope. In our darkest hours He is our Hope and the only One who can strengthen us and carry our burdens. That year was like a wildfire, devastating but also preparing us for new life and growth.
What a beautiful testimony, Beth. He is definitely our hope.
I’ve always seen Grace as: God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense. I think a pastor of ours years ago said it that way, it really fits (as does yours)! He paid the price for sin that we should pay….amazing yes?
As for a word of the year….as I had shared on yesterday’s post, God gave me a word when I didn’t ask for it “Faith”. I’m the same as you, when something keeps popping up, I pay attention to it because God has something to tell me. He confirms it in so many ways, a sermon, a conversation, scripture reading, song or whatnot! When He whispered that word in my ear, it wouldn’t go away so I KNEW He had given it to me. As to why or how, I’m relying on Him to reveal it in my everyday life :-)
And there in lies faith, Trixi. Heb. 11:1 comes to mind, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” (AMP)