The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today. Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed. “. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses”— that is where our patience is tested (2 Corinthians 6:4). Are you failing to rely on the grace of God there? Are you saying to yourself, “Oh well, I won’t count this time”? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you— it is taking the grace of God now. We tend to make prayer the preparation for our service, yet it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the practice of drawing on the grace of God. Don’t say, “I will endure this until I can get away and pray.” Pray now — draw on the grace of God in your moment of need. Prayer is the most normal and useful thing; it is not simply a reflex action of your devotion to God. We are very slow to learn to draw on God’s grace through prayer.“. . . in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:5)— in all these things, display in your life a drawing on the grace of God, which will show evidence to yourself and to others that you are a miracle of His. Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be totally humiliated before others without displaying even the slightest trace of anything but His grace.

“. . . having nothing . . . .” Never hold anything in reserve. Pour yourself out, giving the best that you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful with the treasure God gives you. “. . . and yet possessing all things”— this is poverty triumphant (2 Corinthians 6:10).

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June 26 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for the reminder through this devotional that I am to trust You in all circumstances; at every and all opportunities. As Chambers wrote, Draw on His grace now, not later. The primary word in the spiritual vocabulary is now. Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself. Lord, it seems like the same lesson every day, to be connected to You and allow You to meet all my needs through Your grace and glory. And like manna for today, we are not to try and store up Your grace, but to use it all up at every opportunity and then receive renewed and refreshed grace and mercy as it is needed.

And God says…”Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and do not rely on your own understanding, strength, or awareness. Seek first the kingdom of God, in all you think and do, and when you fail to seek Me first, trust that my grace and mercy will carry you then as well. You may not live out your faith at every opportunity, and when you do not, fear not, because Jesus lives it out for you. When you find the strength to trust and believe, rejoice, but when you do not, rejoice in the fact that Jesus is living out your faith for you and through you. You are strong and believe most of the time, but when you are weak, I am strong, and help you in your unbelief. Do not wait for my strength, it is provided as you use it up. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”