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 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead. Rom. 5:21 (NLT)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Cor. 15:10 (NIV)

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:1 (NIV)

Heavenly Father, the more I read your Word the more I see your grace as the most heart-transforming, life-reorienting power in the universe. It’s not a tame kitten, but a disruptive kingdom. Your plan isn’t merely to get us into heaven one day, but to get more of heaven into us each day—to make us more and more like Jesus.

Through the gospel, you haven’t just rescued us from the vanity of self-righteousness and the futility of legalism; you have placed us in a whole new dominion and have released a power in our lives that claims all things and changes everything.

The Apostle Paul was being modest when he declared, “his grace to me was not without effect.” Sometimes when I read his letters and consider his journeys in the Book of Acts, I wonder if I really want to be as free as Paul was.

Your grace liberated Paul to live and die for Jesus; to become all things to all people, that they might rest in your love; to count all things loss for the excellency of knowing Jesus. Father, forgive me for settling for homogenized, domesticated, harmless grace.

Indeed, your grace doesn’t just free us from empty religion, pragmatism, and moralism. It frees us to live less for ourselves and more for Jesus; to be easily convicted and quick repenters; to criticize less and encourage more; to accumulate less and be more generous with our time, talents, and treasure.

Father, bring a “no-holds-barred,” “no-prisoners-taking,” all-things-renewing grace revival to our hearts and churches. Rescue us from our little stories and little fiefdoms. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name.

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