“I used to feel so far from God, like I had to work my way back to Him after periods of inconsistency in my time with Him, seasons of unbelief or self-sufficiency, or other sins. I was also convinced God had lost His patience with me.Then I’d try harder and eventually fail again.
Finally, I’d get defeated and wonder, “What’s the use in trying?”
But now I know it’s not about trying harder. It’s about turning sooner. It’s about confessing sin and turning back to God’s gift of grace.
Grace is God’s “undeserved favor.” We don’t have to earn it, and we cannot lose it when we act undeserving. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Yes, grace cost a lot, but Jesus already paid for it. Because you see… it is “by grace [we] have been saved, through faith—and this not from [ourselves], it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). And God’s grace not only saved us from eternal hell, it saves us from the hell we put ourselves through daily with guilt, shame, self-loathing and condemnation.
Some people ask if grace is a license to sin. A confident woman knows that it’s not. Instead, she realizes grace is the security of knowing God’s love is guaranteed for her because she trusts in Christ. Really understanding His sacrificial gift accomplishes the opposite of granting a license to sin. When we grasp what Jesus did for us, we want to return the gift of His life by offering ours to Him, even if our offering isn’t perfect or even perfectly consistent.” ~ From Chapter 10
Our word for the week is GRACE
Download and print our word for the week in a PDF or in MSWord.
Our verse for us this week: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourself; it is the gift of God -” (Eph. 2:8)
Our prayer for us this week: Lord, thank You that I can approach Your throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need. Because of Your mercy and forgiveness, my guilt-induced doubt is replaced by grace-induced confidence. Help me trust You with all my heart and not lean on my own understanding, acknowledging You in all my ways so You can make my path straight. Those who know Your name trust You, Lord, because You have never deserted those who seek Your help. In Jesus’ Name, amen. {See Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:9; Proverbs 3:5–6; Psalm 9:10.}
Let’s Chat: What is one area of your life where you need to receive more of God’s grace and give yourself more grace too?
Please click “share your thoughts” just below this post and do just that. {If you are reading this via email please click here to return to my website to connect with us!}
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Hi, Renee.
I am really appreciating this study. It is exactly what I am needing. A few of the lessons that I am getting from the Lord and through you is that:
1) this is not easy 🙂
2) I am saved by the blood of Jesus Christ;
3) I must CHOOSE to live in the light of God’s promises, made available through Christ;
4) I must CHOOSE to replace the lies of my childhood, my past, and the enemy with the unchangeable truth of God’s Word;
5) this is not easy ~ (did I mention that this is not easy?)
6) I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!
7) this is a daily, moment by moment journey, not a once in a while thing.
So, one thing that I am really putting effort into is speaking God’s truth to myself when my flesh is telling me I am a wretch. So, instead of talking to myself, I am trying to remember that there is One much wiser than I am to talk to, and to listen to. Another is that I am making God’s word a bigger part of my daily intake. It is food for my spirit. I am using index cards with Bible verses on them, keeping them in my purse. I am preaching the Gospel to myself regularly. I am doing the timeline (may take a while!). I am reading my Bible through. Thank you for all of the good tools to apply to help replace the lies with truth and the doubts with confidence and the fears with victory.
You are a blessing!
Hi Renee, I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed this online study. I am a wife, mother of three (9, 11,13) and a nursing student. This is the only thing I can commit to and I am so grateful to have it. I love how real you are in Ch.10. It is so nice to remember that we are all human and God chooses to love us because He made us. Thank you!
I need God’s amazing grace at the end of somedays, when I feel weary and become short with the kids, and they don’t understand when I try to explain, I need their help. On these days I ask God, “Am I doing this right?” Are your tired of me asking? On these days I feel “scattered” Im trying to sit and read God’s word, and I have to do this or that, and finally after I get anxiety, I pray sit and start my study, and the phone rings, it’s one of the older kids and they don’t live near by, so I answer because of “worry”, I find that they are ok, tell them I’ll call back, by then I”m out of the zone as you mentioned Renee, I so loved the “Desert Storm” I so related to your story. And yes I’ve used to “mule” word against my husband and our 17 year old heard…I felt quilt, I disrepected God, my husband and my child. What kind of a mom am I? I then go to page 222….Thank You Renee “I feel overwhelmed” God tells me “I will give you peace” John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have (perfect) peace and confidence…AMEN…..Philipians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing… Promises of never leaving us alone, forgiving us even when we don’t feel we should be forgiven.
I totally love page 187…especially the part where you say, it’s not about trying harder, it’s about turning sooner, confessing sin and turning back to God’s gift of grace….His undeserved favor! GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE….so many scriptures and prayers you share with us in this book….I’m going to keep your book with my bible…..Thank You for loving us and sharing all you have, and working even when you have been so busy with your mom. I am praying for you and your family. God has truly used you and this book to bless so many of us and for that I am truly grateful.
Ephesians 2:8 “by grace (we) have been saved, through faith—and this not from (ourselves), it is the goft of God”….Amen
Yes, grace is dutifully needed here. This has been quite a past week with listening to God and seeing freedom. then waiting on God as he provided- growing my trust in him as he came through with more than asked. stressed over blowing it with the kids. then this morning being reminded , God does not keep a record of wrongs. Fear had set its roots in me from early in life. It is Jesus that renders fear powerless….I was encouraged that Gideon asked God to confirm, it was He who said to do that. I will no longer be afraid to ask God to confirm what He said to do……for me..
I have taken on everything by myself for so long it is just so hard to trust Him to show me how to be! Oh am I EVER in need of GRACE, I know God has a plan, but I just don’t trust that yet.
I need God’s grace in my selfishness. I am selfish with my time and my heart, or feelings. At times I am even selfish with my money and my possessions, which I know are not my to begin with.
Forgiveness of myself. I forgive others so easily, but I hold anger to myself for things that happened that I wasn’t emotionally strong enough to handle.
I’m having a hard time concentrating on anything. Plus I am feeling very depressed. Please pray for me, I need help organizing the inside of my home without expense.
Florence, I will pray for you.
Florence, I can relate, I sometimes feel “scattered”……… I will be praying for you.
I love Philipians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer, supplication with thankgiving, make your requests be known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus and verse 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
God Bless
“Just for tomorrow will you try to be kind to yourself as Jesus is.” It’s a work through Christ, but I will try, for today and in Christ each new day after that, to love myself through Christ. He is working a miracle in my life as I learn to love myself. After all, how can I love my neighbor as myself if I don’t know the first thing about loving myself. It’s a renewing of my mind each and every moment of each and every day to remember that God loved us so much that He gave us Jesus to die for us and to forgive us our sins so that we can be restored to God and know His GREAT LOVE!
AMEN Debbie, well said!! ♥
Definately my self-esteem. I am S L O W L Y learning of who I am in Christ though. LOL I thank God for His GRACE and MERCY!
I need grace for so many things that have been mentioned in all the comments, Neg self talk, anger, temper, attitude, my mouth!! WOW my mouth get’s me into so much trouble and I am so grieved knowing I have grieved the Holy Spirit. I am also doing another OBS, “Stressed-Less Living” and in Tracie’s book she says “Could it be that your attitude is one of the biggest giants you face, more so than the situation you are facing?” My attitude affects all that I need grace for. Praying that God will change my attitude so that my anger, temper, mouth etc. reflects the Father!!
I need God’s grace when it comes to relationships. I recently met a very nice man who potentially could be someone special in my life. My fear of relationships and getting hurt again led me to start running in the opposite direction. God calmed me down and told me to give Jeff a chance. I know God has a plan, He works everything out for my good, and He will be with me every step of the way.
Morning
Reading the story’s of all above touch the deepest part of my heart…it gives me the confident heart to just keep moving….one thing I love to do is take a word that is Am and find an anagram word of who is Fm…
As I journal these things come and it is a big part of my walk….I know that right now this lesson along with saying yes to God by Lysa T is my journey walk to where God is leading….Lysa’s book is with a group of women and Renee’s is my personal study, but so go together in where God is taking me….each word we get for our weekly word has been so right on and confirming his plan….His Grace will carry me wherever I go, because of the deep love he has for us, His daughters….
I have made such sweet friends on here:)
So amazing how we all have different story’s, but yet the same daddy who will do exceedingly above all….
I love each of you my sisters….and Renee, Ty for being you and sharing your gifting a with us….I pray you someday come closer to where I live and do a conference….
Patty
I need grace in areas of my life where I’ve made wrong choices in my past that cause me to carry a lot if guilt and shame. Allowing Gods grace to help me forgive others but mostly forgive myself. Learning to accept His grace and let it pour on me saturating every area in my life including my past. I heard someone say recently that where there is forgiveness there is grace, where there is grace, there is freedom and where there is freedom, there is joy.
….keeping my attitude in check at work when surrounded by negativitiy, and the constant reminder of rules at the end of the school year, being short tempered when I’m home with my husband and 2 1/2 year old when she doesn’t listen well or follow our rules.
…I am on a journey to seek peace in my life. I want a peaceful spirit and a gentle heart!
I needed this at this time. God is never too late. Thank you Renee. God bless you.
A word in season, grace. I certainly need grace and to show grace towards others today. Yesterday a group of contract workers in my department, lashed by refusing lunches from the contracted caterer. They did not say anything to me prior to the delivery of lunches. It was at lunch time when I was told that the contract workers have refused to eat and their lunches have been brought to our offices. Their reason is that they hand a running tummy on Saturday, unfortunately that was not communicated to me. On Sunday they hand lunch from the same caterer and things were fine. I need wisdom and grace on how to deal with this issue. Am talking about 15 contract workers on site!!!!
The GRACE I need is healing. This pain I have been living with for almost
2 years and I just turned 40, single and struggling. I just had
2 injections in my back and they were my hope to improve and they made me worse. I am developing a
Stronger relationship with God, brought closer by my family losses last month.
I am learning how to pray. I have prayed using God’s word to heal
And I am in so much pain, even worse. I feel I am losing hope. I have
Already hit bottom with job loss and depression and loss and now my hope
For this debilitating disc sciatica pain after treatment and prayer is making
Me hope waver. I am walking a fine line with hope as it is.mI believe God
Can heal but am I asking correctly?I am using his words to pray. I’m In so much pain
And am allergic to pain medicine, nothing helps. I feel without God’shelp, without a step in a
Positive direction I will lose the little hope I had.
I really need God’s grace in my life. Life is hard and seems to be worse at times. I am craving His forgiveness and His teaching of His true grace. I do that by praying, reading His word and the way I conduct my life. But there are so many side roads that can be taken so I need to trust He is guiding me. So many mistakes, I need to know that by Grace, I can try over and over and He will not desert me. If Jesus didn’t have my back….I would be in so much trouble. Thanks be to God, Amen
Grace… I love that word, and I’m so grateful for his grace in my life.
I would love God to show his grace , when I’m not doing what ever he ask me to do. For him to make
My path straight when I’m doing wrong in his eyes. I’m so grateful for his mercy and grace, he showed me in my past, future and present. I have made mistakes, and his grace shows me that he loves me unconditionally.
If I had one wish in this life, I would God to make me whole again. Give me wisdom to except the things I can’t not change, to courage to change things that I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.