Day 17: Thank God for Grace - Devotions for the Menopausal Woman

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

Thank God For Grace

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)

I often lie awake at night trying to remember at least one good deed I've done or an encouraging word I've said during the course of my day. Sometimes I have to dig deep to find even a smidgen of something redeemable.

Why does God love me? Especially now, when my hormones are raging and I already feel useless, fat, ugly, and unneeded. Why does God tolerate my outbursts? He is God! In a split second He could (and probably should) squash me, humiliate me, disown me. Instead, His compassion overwhems me.

God's Word tells me He loves me because He chose to love me. He didn't choose me because of my outstanding feats of merit, my tremendous abiities, my perfect body, or my highly intelligent mind (thank God for that). He chose me because of His awesome grace. "For by grace are we saved through faith, it is the gift of God."

Thank God for His grace. I don't deserve it. I can't earn it. I can't purchase it. It is a free gift. Unworthy that I am, I will ever be grateful to the One who picked me up out of the mires of sin and made me His adopted child -- just because.

Today's Hot Flash: Where would we be if perfection was the requirement for receiving God's grace? Can anyone come close to the perfectness of God?

Prayer:  Father of Grace and Mercy, thank You for Your saving grace, for new mercies everyday, and for the wonderful truth that each day brings with it a new beginning. Amen.