His Mercies Are New Every Morning

A phrase my friends have used a lot this summer is the more we see of our own sin, the more we see God's grace. I think God may be slowly revealing to me what that really means. I think it means that the more our sin is revealed to us, the more we realize just how sinful and deceitful our hearts are and therefore how big God's grace is to be sufficient for us. But at the same time I also feel that I will never truly be able to claim complete comprehension of God's grace.

This past week was really good and really hard. It was really good because I asked a girl at work who has really intimidated me and all of my roommates the whole summer to hang out with us that night. We have been able to hang out with her a little bit, chat with her more through texts and learn a little bit more about who she is. It was cool to see that the next day at work, after chatting with her on Tuesday, that she was a lot more comfortable around me. One question she asked us was how we could like her and still want a relationship with her even though she does things we don't necessarily agree with. It was awesome to see that even though she didn't know it, she saw Christ in us! I looked back in my prayer journal I have been keeping and saw that the last week of June I had prayed that whole week to share something I had learned with my coworker by the end of the week. Well the end of the week came with no opportunities to share. So although that was sort of frustrating, I realized that God's plans are perfect and his timing is perfect because this past week I felt more secure about sharing with her, more confident about asking her bold questions, I think she was more confident in asking us questions and I truly believe she was more ready to hear the gospel this past week than a month ago. But of course the next day I became frustrated at the fact that we have to leave so soon after sharing with her and I didn't have more time to spend with her and talk with her. I went from trusting in the Lord's plans to doubting and not trusting his plans in just one day! But my room leader encouraged me to see God's grace after recognizing my doubt. And so I wrote down verses about grace and fighting sin to claim:

"But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror of the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor 3:18

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22

"Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new ever morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor 12:9