"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 2:5

G.R.A.C.E. - Gently Radiating A Christ-like Example

Grief(s):

"What good comes from doing loving things for my husband, children, and "neighbors" when I often feel they take me for granted? Aren't they taking advantage of me?"

Response:

Spending time and effort on others is really a sacrifice. Yet this is when the Holy Spirit 'scoops' out impure motives and replaces them with the pure motive of goodness. This is God transforming hearts from selfish ambition and self-seeking praise to reflect His character and likeness. He works through these 'sacrifices' to grow us spiritually.

Your respect, affirmation, and attention are needed and desired by your husband. Learning to love him as Jesus loves you, and treating him like you want to be treated will let him know you truly care for him.

Affirm:

In "Experiencing God" Henry Blackaby says, "Such depth and sincerity of love comes only through spending time in close fellowship with Jesus." Allow yourself that time. It is your most valuable commodity.

When Jim Elliott was called to be a missionary to the Auca Indians in South America, he said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." He knew there was a sacrifice in taking the gospel, but his time spent alone with Jesus touched him so zealously, it took priority over the natural ties of life.

You reflect Jesus' goodness when you perform genuine acts of self-giving sacrifices from a generous heart.

Connect:
Oswald Chambers taught that God so loves us the first thing He does when we come to Him is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride and vanity from our life. He loves us not because we are lovable but because it is His nature to do so.

God brings opposition to develop goodness (a fruit of the Spirit) within you. Use these times for soul-searching and remember how wonderfully God has loved you. Can you do any less?

God desires you to be so connected with Him that His sweetness of character is continually poured out through you. It must be nurtured, in quietness and alone with Him. The psalmist of Psalm 46:10 tells us,

"Be Still and Know that I am God."

Equip:

In his book, "A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit," author Phillip Keller writes, "God will put His finger on your time, talents, interests, strength, energies, and capacities to enrich other lives, setting aside your own selfish, self interest in order to give to others." What a great way to walk with Jesus as you bless your husband and children!

As you invite the Holy Spirit to work in you, joyful changes will come:
~ Defensiveness becomes gentleness
~ Impatience becomes patience
~ "What's in it for me?" to "How can I serve?"

"Taking every thought into captivity to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5), you become His tool to reach others and exemplify His powerful goodness.

G.R.A.C.E. Gem:

• Determine to have a daily quiet time...
• Be still with God...
• Remember to pray throughout the day
• Quiet yourself when worries overtake you
• Practice genuine acts of goodness

J = Jesus
O = Others
Y = Yourself

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

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