Grace and Power...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 10:24AM 
Happy Wednesday, Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! Susie Larson here…
I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!
It’s time to announce the winner for February. Drum roll, please…Leslie Johnson, congratulations! To claim your gift card, just email me with your mailing address at: Susie@FaithRadioNet.com
Thanks, everyone for sharing your thoughts and insights!
Now on to my topic...
I am excited about what I have to share with you today! I hope I can convey in words what I have in my heart, because it feels like an important message for us all (namely me).
If you are a Christ-follower, you know that grace and grace alone has saved you. You no doubt know or may have memorized this verse:
For by GRACE we are saved - through faith - not of ourselves, but is a gift of God, not by any works, so that NO ONE can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Grace, grace, where would we be without grace? We would be lost. We'd still be orphans. We would not possess the identity and inheritance we do now. We get to feast at His table because He invited us, not because we were worthy guests. Thank you, Lord.
But unfortunately, far too many Believers think that's where grace stops. As if to say that grace gets us in the race, but then we take it from there. Saving grace is precious and priceless but there is more to grace, far more, in fact.
Here is another verse to ponder:
And God is able to make ALL grace ABOUND to you, so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will ABOUND in every good work (2 Corinthinans 9:8).
Can I just say, that verse is bursting with the promise of provision! He gives us grace and more grace.
Around this time every year, I start to feel weary from my travels and in deep need of some rest and relaxation. But for me, those days do not come until about late May. The other morning during a powerful prayer time with my husband, I asked God for grace and more grace to carry me through - and not just to get through - I asked for abounding grace to propel me into a place of abundance during my spring speaking tour and my book deadline.
As I boldly asked God to fulfill the promise of 2 Corinthians 9:8, He gave me a picture in my mind of something that surprised me at first. Let me explain. And stay with me, because this is important.
In my mind's eye I saw a picture of the main level of a house, but as I began to boldly pray, my perspective rose above the main level to a hidden upper room so to speak. In this upper level every thing was bigger, more bountiful, and oversized. In comparison, the lower level looked like a Barbie-doll house. The lower level furniture was tiny, like little toys. The 'upper level' was in every way, superior.
The more we prayed, the more I sensed that the upper room represented that place were grace and power fuels us; the place where we function closest to Jesus and where we draw on His strength. When we go at it in our own strength, or we take a God-given assignment and turn it in to striving, we end up on the lower level, where the fruit, the furniture, the sense of perspective are like little toys compared to what we produce when we are in step with Jesus and totally connected to the Vine.
Our Pastor friend Mark Spencer used a candle as an analogy for operating in the grace and power of God. He said, "When a candle burns the wax as it should, you see a constant and steady flame. But when the candle starts to flicker, you know the flame is burning into the wick." It's the difference between burning out and burning brightly.
Are you experiencing a steady flame in your life right now? Or are you burning the wick and is your flame starting to flicker? Are you where God wants you to be right now? Or are you running your own race? Maybe you started out with a God-given assignment but now you're grinding it out on your own strength.
It may be time to pull back and seek the Lord. Ask Him for grace and power. Ask Him to redirect your steps so you can find that sweet spot of service in step with Him. Take some time to rest in Him that He might strengthen you and refresh you. Most of all, get a vision of what that upper room, of what that higher level is supposed to look like for you.
How would your life look different with an abundance of grace and power flowing through the work of your hands? What kind of results would seem supernatural to you? I tell you what, that's what God wants for us and from us - a supernatural, exponential return on His investment! Ask God to fulfill this promise in your life. Ask Him to speak to you about life-adjustments necessary in order to function from that place of abundant grace.
As we draw on the Lord's strength for the Lord's specific call on our lives, we will find our greatest joy, our greatest strength, and our greatest results. His highest will for us is our best-case-scenario and the place where we most love to serve. May we all live and function from such a sweet spot.
So sorry for the extra long post. Have a blessed, grace and power-filled week!
~Until next week...
Reader Comments (18)
Your blog post spoke to me deeply Susie, thank you. I will pray for abounding grace to propel me (like a slingshot!) into that place of peace in the Lord. I have been feeling a bit like Psalm 69, in the mire, and needed to hear this today! God bless you.
Amazing... Needed to hear this today and today is the first time I have read your blog. Looking forward to more:)
Thank you Susie, that was very encouraging and challenging!
Thanks for the post, it was very encouraging. I remember several years ago God speaking to me, "My grace is sufficient for you". This happened right before I took my first part time youth ministry job. It got me thinking a lot about grace and a few months later I took an entire day to study it. My life has never been the same since! The grace of God reaches into every area of our lives, especially ministry. I am at a place now where I am beginning to walk in the ministry God has been leading me too for the past few years. The tasks are great and the obstacles ahead of me are large, but I plan on taking your advice and flowing in the Grace of God to fulfill my calling.
Susie,
Thank you for sharing your heart once again! I have been blessed by reading this post, and pray blessings upon you in return!
Hannah,
So glad you were blessed by this week's post. May God breathe fresh life into your soul, and fresh passion into your heart. Peace in Christ, Sister!
Matt,
Your post inspired me greatly! I love reading stories of how people step-by-faith into their calling, fully trusting God! You are so right, a deeper understanding of God's grace is completely life-changing! May God continue to open doors for you, establish you, and grow great fruit from your ministry. Blessings to you, brother!
Dear Lindsay,
I've so been there, my friend! Do keep looking up; keep trusting; keep believing; and in due time, you'll see, in fact, you live out your breakthrough! May His grace overwhelm you during this in between season while you wait. He's more than enough for you. May He be especially real to you today. Bless you.
Dear Paulette,
Welcome! So glad you enjoyed the post. May God strengthen and bless you in every way! Peace in Christ to you~
Dear Josie,
You are welcome, my dear. May the Lord bless you with strength, peace, and a renewed perspective. He's got you, my dear! Blessings in Christ ~
Dear Susie
Was praying for a message to share in a women's ministry leadership meeting tomorrow night and this I will share! Thank you for your obedience to His promptings as your words daily have blessed me and I know will bless my team. Such a beautifull word picture on prayer and can't wait to pass it on! Keep pressing into him because we are definitely benefiting from the fruit of your obedience. Pat
Such powerful words, Susie! I especially love the candle analogy and upper-level image. For many years I ran the race on my own strength, ending up in a heap. Now God's grace allows me to keep running, but more importantly, He gives me joy in this fractured world and the ability and desire to share His truth and joy with others. Blessings to you.
Thanks Susie for your obedience to God's call on your life. I have read your blog very often and I am always encouraged and challenged.I needed today's post. One month after returning from 4 years with a missionary organization working in the office, we became my Mom's care giver. That was 10 years ago. We moved in with her 6 years ago. What was a noble calling has become a burden some of the time. I needed God's challenge and promise of grace and strength that you wrote about. It is too easy to get trapped in "doing it myself".
We serve an amazing God.
Bless you Susie!
Margaret
Susie,
Thank you for your message. I really like the idea of the "Upper Room" being that big, powerful place where the real strength comes from. It challenges me to draw near to the Lord on a daily basis for my strength and direction.
I was at retreat this past weekend and saw you. Thanks so much! It was wonderful.
Dear Pat,
Thanks for sharing! Don't you just love how God provides what we need when we need it? So glad God used this week's post in your life! Bless you for being a vessel for other women! Peace to you.
Dear Julie,
Thanks for your note. For many years I too ran in my own strength. There's really no comparison, is there? It's the difference between using cheap hand tools and God's power tools! :) But I guess that mixing too many metaphors. Even so, nothing compares to operating under God's direction, in God's strength. May that be all we know every single day. Bless you!
Wow, Margaret, God bless you!
Those hidden acts of significance are so very precious to God! May He renew and refresh you in every way. May you see the sun break through clouds and may it warm your face and refresh your soul. And may He put a new song in your mouth and a new dream in your heart. Bless you, dear sister.
Dear Nichole,
Thanks for your note! I'm glad you got to be at the retreat! What a sweet time that was! May God continue to stir up your faith, inspire hope, and overwhelm you with His love. May you walk in a whole new awareness of His presence in your life. Peace to you, my sister.