We all experience times when life and ministry can be difficult, and sometimes the holidays seem to multiply those challenges. To help focus our hearts in the direction of grace, I want to offer up three ways to renew your heart as we begin a new year.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve discussed Changing Your Routine and Disconnecting from Distractions. Today I’d like to talk about the third way to refocus our hearts: Showing Unexpected Grace.
Maybe you’re the peacemaking type, the kind of person who never even notices when your spouse leaves his or her dirty clothes on the floor or if the kids make a mess. Maybe when someone cuts you off in traffic, it doesn’t bother you at all.
Or maybe you’re more like me, and when things don’t go according to your personal rules and plans, you tend to get annoyed.
Whether you’re more like Mother Theresa or a Type A personality, we can all be a little inflexible at times. We can harbor frustrations, doubt people’s intentions, and sometimes be a little difficult to be around.
The truth is, we’re all desperate for grace. We need God’s grace to cover our inadequacies, and we need God’s grace in our interactions with others.
Imagine if, as we went into this new year, we showed unexpected and irrational grace to others. What if we chose not to point out every mistake? What if we allowed people to say something we disagree with without having to correct them? What if we did something kind for people who tend to get on our nerves?
Honestly, we can get far too comfortable being the boss of our own lives (and everyone else’s). It might be time to let God have His place back and learn from Him.
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves….” – Philippians 2:3
A few ideas for showing unexpected grace:
- Forgive someone without needing an apology.
- Give an extravagant gift (financially or time-related).
- Confess to God that you’ve made an idol of your plans.
- Willingly follow along with the ideas of others.
- Share a word of encouragement to someone who needs it.
- Be willing to forgive yourself for not living up to your own expectations.
If there is anything that should mark the life of a believer, it is grace. Let us yield our hearts to His Spirit and allow His grace to shine through us in new ways as we start this new year.
