Dear saints of God,
Grace and peace be multiplied to you all in the Name of Jesus Christ, our soon coming King! I hope that in all things, you are flourishing and abounding in favor of the Lord.
A few days ago, I ran into a colleague who recently lost his wife to COVID19. He shared in agonizing detail the sad circumstances surrounding her illness and subsequent passing. I spent a few minutes commiserating and encouraging him in the Lord, and as we parted ways, a Scripture came to my heart that ministered to me greatly throughout the week.
‘Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”’ (1 Chronicles 17:16)
The phrase ‘sat before the Lord’ is an ancient phrase that denotes humility in prayer. David was moved by the gracious prophetic words that God had spoken earlier regarding his legacy and the eternal perpetuity of his dynasty. I believe David was extremely overwhelmed by the glorious gift that the Lord had extended to him and his descendants. He was so moved that he sat before God in prayer and asked Him, “Who am I, and what is my family that you have brought us this far?”
Grace consciousness is an important attribute to have as a believer. We are who we are by the grace of God. We have what we have because of the grace of God. The Apostle Paul emphatically declares that “God’s grace was not without effect in my life” (1 Corinthians 15:10). In other words, there is no adverse situation of man that cannot be redeemed or repaired by the grace of God. Paul, then Saul of Tarsus, persecuted and laid waste of many believers' lives in his zealous rage to purge the Church. He claimed that he was the least of all the apostles because of his heinous past… but God’s grace was effective in turning his life around.
Like David and Paul, do you ever take time to reflect on the gracious journey that the Lord has taken you thus far? We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has claimed the lives of millions. You are reading this letter because God has been gracious and kind to preserve your life. I know of people who sadly died in this pandemic despite steaming daily, wearing the best quality personal protective equipment, and drinking all manner of pills and herbs. We are where we are today because of the grace, favor, and kindness of the Lord! This is why King David's words in 1 Chronicles 17:16 were so precious to me this past week.
The sad reality is that we tend to quickly forget what the Lord has done in our lives as a people of God. We trivialize and take for granted the spouse, children, jobs, resources, wealth, and good health that God has graciously blessed us with. Surprisingly, the more we receive, the quicker we forget about Him, who gives us all things. This is why the Lord warned Israel not to forget Him when their circumstances greatly flourished in Canaan (Deuteronomy 8:11).
The Lord wants us to have a constant sense of grace consciousness in our lives. Grace consciousness drives us to brokenness and prayer. Grace consciousness keeps us humble and focussed upward to God; instead of inward to self. Grace consciousness helps us appreciate the small things.’ Grace consciousness creates an atmosphere where God comes through to do more miraculous works in our lives.
May you be encouraged and strengthened by these words of eternal life. Take a moment this week to write down all the gracious things that the Lord has done for you thus far. Take time each day to thank Him for His grace and kindness… because the Lord has truly brought us a mighty long way!
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He smile upon you & your loved ones this week
Dr. Z Mutsemi
● Prayer focus – Thanking God for the gracious things He has done for you & your family.
● Extra scripture reading – Ephesians 1:3-6; 1 Corinthians 15:9-10; 2 Samuel 9:1-12