Walk Through “Walking in the Will of God” – Part 1: GRACE

Walking in the Will of God by Steve McVey has been an incredible book to read!! It has taught me how to relax and trust that God is here right NOW in all of us.  This book has taught me things like the fact that His plan is PERFECT, we are the LIGHT, and all of us have a DIVINE purpose.  Steve McVey has remarkably conquered the task of laying out how to have a trusting relationship with God.

Grace is very briefly mentioned in the prologue of this book.  It is such an important faith topic though that I think it deserves a lot of discovery and debunking! So to begin my Walk through “Walking in the Will of God” lets get down and dirty with GRACE.

What is GRACE?

Grace is something that I am completely infatuated with.  I’ve never fully understood the concept of grace or what grace really is until reading this book, and ever since it has been a really big faith focus for me.  The problem was that I had heard of grace SO MUCH.  Around church, youth groups, large groups, you name it – grace was talked about at some point.  But I think that people don’t really understand the magnitude of what grace really is.  So lets debunk the truth about grace!

So what is grace?  Grace is undeserved favor.  Grace is God doing what needs to be done and all we have to do is simply live in faith as the beneficiary of His actions.  Grace is all the amazing and wonderful gifts God gives us that we in NO way deserve!!  Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve.

So What is Walking in Grace?

So many times in my faith journey I have heard they saying “walking in grace” or “through grace” or “by grace.”  But what does that really mean.  Steve McVey explains it very simply…

• Walking in Grace = walking in faith of God’s will knowing it is undeserved

I don’t know about you, but I find this just incredible.  God has a plan for us and as sinners who are entirely flawed, his plan is still perfect and divinely inspired for each and everyone of us.  Totally undeserved.

G.R.A.C.E

So thats all great but what does it mean?? How can I walk in grace, live through grace, do things by grace? It was all way over my head at first.  Then I found this handy acronym: G.R.A.C.E.

• G = Give yourself
• R = Release the love from within
• A = Ask for nothing in return
• C = Compassion shows love
• E = Enjoy your salvation

So how do we “walking in faith of God’s will and know that everything is undeserved?”  We simply enjoy our salvation while giving ourselves through love and compassion and ask nothing in return.  Grace.

 

God’s Plan

I couldn’t wait to walk across that stage and finally been done with high school.  Now, I would do anything to go back and treasure every second.  High school brought me some of my favorite memories, with my best friends.  While I loved the time I spent there I was ready to venture into the world outside of my hometown.

After graduation, its tradition that all the graduated seniors go to myrtle beach for “beachweek.”  Beachweek, UVA orientation, a summer job, family vacations, and spending every second with friends made the summer fly by.

Saying goodbye was hard but I was so excited I could barely process the change.  A couple weeks in I began to struggle and feel out of place.  I missed my boyfriend, family, and friends.  Going home became a weekend occurrence.  I began to hate being here.  Talk of transferring and filling out applications flooded my mind constantly.  Negativity and hatred flooded my body.  I made spreadsheets, lists, and compiled all the reasons for my antagonistic view on my school.  I lost my faith in God.

The truth is that God put me here for a reason.  I was waitlisted at all of my other options making UVA the clear choice for me.  While I was doubtful my dad reassured me by saying “Brooke I don’t know what He is planning, but there is something great in store for you at UVA.”  So I listened.

I started my second semester as a fresh start.  Trying to remain hopeful in God’s plan.  While it may be that God is planning for me to transfer, I can’t help but feel that there is something special in store for me here.  So for now I live every day in firm belief that I am living in God’s plan.

Created

I was created in the image of God, perfectly flawless.

God has made me to be a person who loves…

• life and the happiness that it brings.
• learning and teaching my knowledge to others.
• laughter and experiences in the world.
• dreaming about the future and watching it unfold.
• love.

God’s love runs through me and allows me to be who I am today.  While I am not perfect I was created perfectly, knowing that I would be filled with sin and mistakes.  Not only am I filled with love but I am surround by love and feel its power constantly.  This fairytale I describe is not just mine.  It’s everyones as long as you choose to live it.

Everyone has the ability to live this way.  Through God you have a gift.  While it may not be wrapped in pink paper and tied with a gold bow, but it is much more precious.  It is your purpose.  As life goes on you discover more and more of your gift.  Never stop living your fairytale because through that life you will find many gifts along the way.