Why I have trouble with grace
“I love to give charity, but I don’t want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace.
‘Don you are not above the charity of God.’ In that instant he revealed my motives were not noble, they were prideful.
It wasn’t that I cared about my friends more than myself; it was that I believed I was above the grace of God.
Like Rick, I am too prideful to accept the grace of God. It isn’t that I want to earn my own way to give something to God, it’s that I want to earn my own way so I won’t be charity.”
– Donald Miller
Blue like Jazz
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Every day in October I’m sharing a short quote on grace from a favorite book.
If you’d like to receive the grace quote every day . . .
I so need the grace … great heaping helpings of it. And I’m not too proud to ask.
‘Cause I know where I’d be without it. Been there. Done that.
I’m not too proud to ask for it either. Once we become aware of receiving it, we know we can’t live without it! Have a great weekend, Linda.
Donald Miller is a great writer. I’ve read several of his books.
Yes, grace is a tough one, isn’t it? We so desperately need it, but our natures rebel against receiving it. I think it’s because the root of all sin is the sinful nature full of pride. WE want to take care of ourselves. WE want to control our lives. We do not want to need help, nor do we want to accept it when we need it.
Like Paul, I feel this way:
“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Yes, thank you Lord for the Grace that saved me.
GOD BLESS!
Yes, I love Donald Miller’s insights too. I follow his blog because he has a way of making me see things a little differently.
In many ways we want to stay like little kids, “Me do it myself.” 🙂 But once we discover the Helper, life is so much more pleasurable, yes? I’m thankful for his saving grace, too! Good stuff.
Hmmm, this has got me thinking, Lisa. He {Don} gives charity almost a negative connotation here. Like someone receiving a benefit without appreciating it. I don’t feel that way at all about receiving God’s grace. I know I am completely unworthy, and in need of His grace. I want it and need it desperately! And accept it with eternal gratitude!
Actually I think Don would agree with you, June. He was just coming at it from an angle that we have to get where you are, in order to accept grace. We have to realize it’s a total gift, and be okay with that, instead of hanging on to our pride of “earning” whatever we get. And I’m definitely with you too–bring on the grace! 🙂
Ouch, Lisa! This one stings a little as I can completely relate. Oh, how I love to give and bless others and yet I feel uncomfortable when others try to bless me. I’m thankful, but out of my comfort zone. I’m looking forward to your posts this month. Thank you.
Thanks, Heather. I’m excited about these posts because I can never hear too much about grace! 🙂 This one about resisting grace stuck out in my mind because I often don’t like to admit either that I need anybody else’s help. But I do need help, and I need to be sa gracious about receiving help as I want to be about giving it.
Love your topic, I am doing my 31 days on books that inspire, can’t wait to read yours.
I love your topic, too, Tobi. Inspiring books are some of my very favorite things. 🙂
After Danielle died i found out what grace was and one of my beloved friends is now an 86 year old church member who took over teaching my Sunday school lessons week after week because i couldn’t stop crying long enough to teach them and then when i was ready she just stood a side and let me carry on. Grace is saying ‘yes’ to God’s ‘yeses’.
What a beautiful testimony of grace, Beverley. Such a precious saint to do that for you, and to step aside when you were ready to return. Some people are more sensitive to others in knowing how to show grace.