Our lesson for today was about Grace and how we can apply it in our lives as a Christian.
What does grace mean?
Grace is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God.
I grew up in a Christian Home. All my life, I listen to preachers both in church and in radio. The message I kept getting is how I should be as a Christian, as a Wife, as a Mother and how my husband should be as a husband and as a Father.
I also learned to pray the phrase, " Make me the kind of person you want me to be." This Christian experience caused me to expect certain kind of results and behavior in myself, my husband and my family. I became idealistic and I wanted to pursue traditional family life. I wanted my husband to be that spiritual leader they are talking about. I wanted to stay home and home school my children. I wanted to be the perfect obedient wife. We should also be active in church and the kids should be in choir and youth groups. Well life happens and what happened was the opposite of everything I desired.
I was frustrated trying to become a proverbs 31 woman. I can never reached that standard. Then I felt guilty.
It was even more frustrating to change my husband, it was not happening. Then I was feeling guilty that our family was not being the kind of family God wanted us to be.
Then it occured to me a few years ago. The reason Jesus came is to redeem me from my imperfect, sinful self. He poured His grace on me, shed His blood as a sacrifice so I can have freedom from the bondage of sin. He erased my guilt. When Satan accuses me, I think of God's grace and instantly, Satan loses his grip. The chains of expectation and legalism breaks. It is a wonderful feeling to be free.
Since I don't have these expectations anymore, I became happier in my marriage and my life as a whole.
Just because I'm free does not mean I have become perfect. I can't promise that everybody will like me or that I will never say hurtful things. The difference is, I am not frustrated anymore trying to make things perfect or expect other people to act perfect. Things can happen, I can accept it. God's grace applied in my life!
So if you are experiencing guilt or suffering from low self-esteem, God's grace through Jesus Christ will set you free and make you feel special!
