God’s Amazing Grace Pt 3 – Self-Pity or Sufficient Grace?
Last week we looked at the first step to accessing God’s amazing grace your life. Today we will look at two more.
1. You must be aware of it (see my last post)
2. You must believe in it, and
3. You must choose it!
It is one thing to be aware of the fact that God’s grace is with you at all times. It is another thing to believe it is more powerful than your situation. But it is. Remember the definition of sufficient?
Sufficient = To be possessed of unfailing strength
But, knowing that God’s grace is with you, and believing that it is strong enough to enable you to power through your pain, will not do you any good unless you CHOOSE to use it!
What did Paul say about God’s grace?
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 2 Corinthians 15:10 NKJ
Paul said God’s grace was not given to him in vain – meaning it was not useless.
How could God’s grace in your life be useless?
By not depending on it. By either continuing to depend on your own strength, OR by choosing self-pity over God’s sufficient grace.
It is SO easy to choose self-pity. To get people to feel sorry for us. It feels good to the flesh. It also enables us to neglect our responsibility to get up and do something about our situation.
Here is what my wife said about self-pity:
“Self-pity prevents you from taking personal responsibility, keeps you stuck in the problem, and annoys everyone around you.” Hope Ettore
Self-pity is a poor substitute for victory!
You will know whether you are choosing the grace of God or self-pity because you will either be sinking lower and getting weaker, or you will be rising up and courageously facing your giant!
You can choose self-pity, weakness, and defeat, or you can stand up and say, “God’s grace is with me!”
That is why Paul was eventually able to say:
“I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Paul chose God’s grace instead of pity. He could have kept complaining and bemoaning about his mountain not moving, but instead he got up, in the strength of God’s grace, and continued to be a world-changer!
The very thing that can break you will make you if you choose the grace of God.
And Jesus gives Paul a huge kingdom key that releases this grace like few things can:
2 Corinthians 12:8 NKJ “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
To experience God’s empowering grace, you must admit that you are weak, and then invite Christ into your weakness.
We are SO afraid of our weaknesses. We spend our lives trying to cover them up, lie about them, and pretend we do not have them. But we ALL have them.
We are so afraid that people will think less of us if they see our weaknesses. And some will. But God won’t. In fact, He will think more of you. AND He will trade in your weaknesses for His strength!
James 4:6 Amp “But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” – or “self-reliance”!That is why Paul goes on to say:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJ “Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
This Scripture does not say that God is strong when you are weak. NO, it says that when YOU are weak, YOU are strong!
Think About It:
Q. What are you going through right now that is overwhelming you? Will you choose self-pity or God’s amazing grace?
Q. Are you willing to admit your weakness to God? If so, tell Him what it is right now and then ask Him to fill you with His strength!
Now, turn your “Why God?” into “What God?” And Him what He wants you to do about your situation, then do it!