God Watches Over You

Have no fears or worries,

Simply be at rest—

Trusting in your Father,

He knows what is best.

His love rests upon you,

Angels are everywhere—

Your heart can be certain

You are in His care.

Clothing, food, and shelter

His love freely brings—

Faithfully He’ll keep you

Covered by His wings.

Everything He’s promised

He will surely do—

God, Who sees the sparrow

Watches over you.

“Under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4 KJV

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved. 

You Shall Not Want

   The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

To the lost sheep, He is the seeking Shepherd;

To the needy sheep, He is the providing Shepherd;

To the hurting sheep, He is the comforting Shepherd;

To the bruised sheep, He is the healing Shepherd;

To the anxious sheep, He is the peaceful Shepherd;

To the wandering sheep, He is the guiding Shepherd;

To the fearful sheep, He is the protecting Shepherd;

To the lame sheep, He is the carrying Shepherd;

To the discontented sheep, He is the fulfilling Shepherd;

To the parched sheep, He is the anointing Shepherd;

To the timid sheep, He is the reassuring Shepherd;

To the fallen sheep, He is the merciful Shepherd;

To the nervous sheep, He is the quieting Shepherd;

To the heavy laden sheep, He is the restful Shepherd;

To the lonely sheep, He is the ever-present Shepherd;

To the weary sheep, He is the restoring Shepherd;

To all His sheep, He is the Good Shepherd.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

The Humble Place

For thus says the high and lofty One—He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].  -Isaiah 57:15 AMP

We need to travel the lowly path and seek the humble place before God. We cannot take the high place of pride, the exalted place of self-significance, the lofty place of personal achievements, the arrogant place of personal goodness, or the haughty place of self-sufficiency.

God’s grace works within our lives to strip us and reduce us, to mold us and shape us, to conform us into His image and to transform us into His likeness. God must reveal to us our true needs, and cause us to see how truly dependent we are upon Him. God does this, not to leave us empty, but to fill us with His true riches found in Jesus Christ; not to leave us downcast, but to be our glory and the lifter of our heads; not to make our lives miserable, but to bring to us the fullness of His joy; not to make our lives meaningless, but to work within us His eternal purpose.

Don’t be discouraged today if you sense God’s hand doing its sanctifying work in your life. If He is trimming your wick, it is only to make your light shine brighter; if He is shaping your vessel on His potter’s wheel, it is only to increase your capacity for Him; if He is allowing you to be pressed within His caring hands, it is only to release the flow of the sweet wine of His Spirit.

Humble yourself under His mighty hand, His sure hand, His firm hand, His caring hand, and as you do, allow this prayer to be upon your lips:

“Father, work in me what I cannot work; do in me what I cannot do; be in me what I cannot be; live through me what I cannot live—for I know it is through You, and You alone, that my life will be to the praise of Your glory.”

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

God’s Opportunities

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Each day we can respond to the opportunities God places before us. Not opportunities to be famous, powerful, or rich, but opportunities to glorify Him. These opportunities will often be found amidst the ordinary days, and routine moments of our lives.

Today, may God give you the opportunity to manifest an attitude that reflects what He thinks and feels; to perform an action that expresses what He wants to do in a certain situation; to share words that speak His heart and His truth into someone’s life; to express kindness that extends His grace and mercy to someone in need.

God, here are my hands, work through them as I give myself to your assigned tasks; here is my voice, speak your words through me as I follow your prompting; here are my feet, guide them in the paths of righteousness as I obey your leading; here is my heart, fill it with the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things…the love that never fails—for your glory. Amen.

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

10 More Things You Will Never Receive From God

Unavailability— Psalm 86:7

Incomplete salvation— Hebrews 7:25

Lukewarmness— Isaiah 9:7

Unkindness— Psalm 63:3

Confusion— 1 Corinthians 14:33

Neglect— Hebrews 13:5

Unwise counsel— 1 Corinthians 1:19-31

Empty promises— 2 Corinthians 1:20

Bad timing— Psalm 18:30

An uncaring heart— 1 Peter 5:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

10 Things You Will Never Receive From God

Second best— Psalm 34:10

Temptation to do evil— James 1:13

A half-hearted love— Jeremiah 31:3

Indifference— Luke 13:34

Forgetfulness— Isaiah 49:15

Insufficient grace— 2 Corinthians 9:8

Unnecessary discipline— Hebrews 12:5-6

A depleted supply of blessings— Ephesians 1:3

Watered down truth— Psalm 19:7-8

Compromise— Hebrews 6:17-18

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3 NLT

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved. 

The Lord is Your...

Provider-

You are complete.

Teacher-

You are instructed.

Shelter-

You are covered.

Rock-

You are secure.

Victory-

You are triumphant.

Shepherd-

You are cared for.

Captain-

You are protected.

Encourager-

You are built up.

Salvation-

You are whole.

Rest-

You are comforted.

Confidence-

You are assured.

Father-

You are family.

Deliverer-

You are free.

The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1 NLT

©2019 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 13: How to be Forgiven

For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

...

One of the greatest joys that the heart can ever experience is forgiveness. Nothing else can set you free from the guilt of the past and place your feet on a new path of hope. Forgiveness comes to you as a free gift from God. You cannot earn it in any way; you can only receive it. Forgiveness is not based on what you have done, how good you have tried to be, or how sincere you have been. Your forgiveness is based on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made for your sins. It is by His blood alone that you can be made clean.

Your forgiveness is only a prayer away. Turn your heart to God, confess and forsake your sins, and ask Him to cleanse and forgive you. His Word says that He will do it by His grace and mercy. He will wash you and make you clean. As you pray, ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and live in you. He will be your Lord and Savior. His life will make you new inside.

Ask Him today, and start all your tomorrows with the joy of being forgiven.

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

Forgiven, Part 12: Growth

I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. 'I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.' But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.

Hosea 14:5, John 15:5, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 3:18

...
The wonder of a seed is that it produces life after it has been planted in the ground and dies. The message of the Gospel is that life has come out of death. Jesus died that we might live. He was buried and rose from the dead that we might be raised to newness of life. When we come to Jesus Christ by faith, turn from our personal darkness of sin, and receive His grace and forgiveness, He cleanses us and comes to live within our hearts. We are born again of His Spirit.

The resurrection life of Jesus Christ enters us and we are changed. He plants within us the seeds of His kingdom, and through our faith and obedience the new life begins to grow. The Christian life is not produced by studying how Jesus lived and then trying to copy Him. It is not a script we study and attempt to act out. It is not like taking plastic fruit and attaching it to our garments to make us look like fruit trees. It is a real life...a whole life...a meaningful life...it is His life lived out through us. It is His beauty that others see, it is His fragrance that others are drawn to, it is His fruit that others will partake of and be fed. He is your life. He is all there is...all that is worth knowing...and all that really matters.
...
Lord,
Thank You for the good work that You have begun in me. Thank You that I am alive in You because of the life of the Holy Spirit within me. I want to rest in Your love and abide in Your presence. I want to grow in faith and see Your life formed in me. Feed me through Your word and water the seeds planted in my heart. Make me a fruitful branch that can feed others and daily glorify You. 
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Forgiven, Part 11: Worship

I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys. Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth. Then the King will desire your beauty; because He is your Lord, bow down to Him. The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.' And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.' 

Song of Solomon 2:1, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 96:9, Psalm 45:11, Revelation 4:10, 11, Revelation 5:9

...
What does Jesus look like? There are many paintings that show an artist's interpretation of what Jesus looked like. However, when the Bible tells us what Jesus looked like, it doesn't describe His specific physical characteristics. Isaiah 53 tells us "He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him."

The Bible describes Jesus by telling us about His character and His actions. He went about doing good. He had compassion on the multitudes, seeing them as sheep in need of a shepherd. He healed the sick and freed the oppressed. He comforted those who mourned and touched the lives of those who were untouchable. Jesus looked like love...He looked like joy...He looked like the fruit of the Spirit. In His face the glory of God was reflected, through His eyes the heart of the Father was seen, from His smile the favor of God was manifest. Jesus looked like purity and holiness. He looked like everything good and right. The closer we draw to Jesus and learn His heart, the more beauty we see. Like the rose, it is in closeness and intimacy that its fragrance is the strongest and sweetest. As we draw close to Him in worship, we will see His beauty clearly, and as we delight ourselves in His presence, the fragrance of the Lord will intoxicate our souls.
...
Lord,
You are beautiful, and I honor You. I want to draw close to You and learn Your mind. I want to walk close to You and understand Your ways. I want to be close to You and know Your heart. Open up my capacity to comprehend the height, depth, length, and width of Your vast love. Each day I want to gaze upon Your face, see Your glory, and become a worshiper of You. 
Amen


Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 10: Justification

He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are Thou to take the book, and to break its seals, for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.' He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 5:9, Titus 3:5, Colossians 1:14, Romans 5:9

...
The shed blood of Jesus Christ has accomplished our justification before God—God receiving us just as though we had never sinned. Because of Christ's shed blood, God can look at our lives no matter how dark, how sinful, or how unclean they may have been and declare us guilt-free! In justification our debts are not only canceled, they are wiped clean; our sins are not only forgiven, they are remembered against us no more.

Justification is a legal term. If we are brought before a judge to be tried for a crime and proven innocent, we have been justified. If we are proven guilty, we cannot be justified, and we must pay the penalty for our crime. The only way we could ever be declared justified once and we've been proven guilty is to have someone else meet the full demands of the law by taking our punishment for us. Christ's blood has justified us because we were guilty, and He took our judgment for us. He is the spotless lamb offered up for the transgressor...the obedient Son taking the place of the rebellious child...the caring Creator yielding His life for His fallen creation.
...
Lord,
I praise You that I can stand before You guilt-free. What a great salvation You have brought me. You didn't just pity me, You came to take every judgment I deserved. You haven't just forgiven me, You have regarded my sin as though it had never happened. You are my wonderful Savior, and I am grateful!
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 9: Righteousness

As sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. That I may gain Christ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Romans 5:21, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, Philippians 3:9, Isaiah 61:10

...

There is a story in the Bible that tells us about a great wedding feast. Everyone at the feast needed to be clothed in the proper wedding garments. A man was at the feast without the proper garment on, and when he was discovered, he was sent away from the celebration.

This story reminds us of the importance of being clothed with the right garment—the clean, pure, white robe of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Our own righteousness is like wearing filthy garments in God's sight. No one is righteous. We please God not by trying to be better, but by receiving the righteousness which is ours by faith in His Son.

We can never scrub out the stains in our soiled garments by becoming more religious; we can never swap our tattered garments for new ones by making resolutions, or by trying to start over; we can never improve our garment's condition by joining others whose garments seem to be whiter than ours. It is His purity that washes us...His goodness that clothes us...His glory that covers us. We are made and declared righteous by the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. 
...
Lord,
It is only by faith that I can begin to comprehend how You could take someone like me and declare me righteous. Your mercy overwhelms me; You grace is beyond anything I have ever known. Thank You for clothing me with the righteousness of Jesus Christ and freeing me from the bondage of trying to earn my way to You. 
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 8: Change

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come. 'Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.' So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 
2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26, Ephesians 3:17-19

...
When we come to Jesus in our brokenness and need, He receives us as we are, but because He loves us He doesn't want to leave us that way. He has come to make all things new.

His path is a path of hope. His way is a way of change. He doesn't just forgive us, He cleanses us...He doesn't just receive us, He indwells us...He doesn't just justify us, He gives us a new heart. He causes us to hate the things we used to love and love the things we used to hate. he changes us from the inside out. His Holy Spirit comes to live within us, we are born of God, and His love is shed abroad in our hearts. We begin to think as He thinks and feel as He feels. He removes our stone hearts—cold, hard, and unbending and gives us a heart of flesh—warm, tender, and yielding. He gives us a heart to love Him, adore Him, and enjoy Him. A heart of devotion...a heart of communion...a heart of compassion.

Through this change we become clay in the Potter's hands, formed into vessels as He wills...vessels that are honorable in the Master's house, fit for His use...vessels that are filled with the treasure of Jesus Christ.
...
Lord,
Only You have the power to change me and the wisdom to know what is best for me. I am safe in Your keeping and secure in the knowledge that I am a new creation in Christ. Mold me and shape me into a vessel that will be pleasing in Your sight, then fill my heart with the love of Jesus Christ. 
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019, DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

Forgiven, Part 7: Holiness

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. I will bow down toward Thy holy temple, and give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth. For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name. O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me. Let them bring me to Thy holy hill, and to Thy dwelling places. But as for me, by Thine abundant lovingkindness I will enter Thy house, at Thy holy temple I will bow in reverence for Thee. Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in holy array. 
Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 138:2, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 5:7, Ephesians 1:4, Psalm 29:2

...
Jesus Christ is more than a prophet, a teacher, or a good man. As the God-man, He was tempted in all points as we are, but He was without sin. He is God incarnate; Immanuel, God with us; the Word become flesh; the only begotten of the Father that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. One of the great miracles of God is that He forms His life within us. Only He can take an unholy person, place that person back into the world, and empower that person to live a holy life.

Holiness is to our spirits what good health is to our bodies. Holiness is healthiness. It is the song within us that declares, "It is well with my soul." Holiness is beauty. It is the beauty of God's character seen in the face of Jesus Christ. Holiness is love. It is the cup of the Lord's blessing of goodness, kindness, gentleness, and love being poured into our empty vessels. We become healthy because He is healthy...we become beautiful because He is beautiful...we become loving because He is love.
...
Lord,
Thank You that everything about You is good, pure, and right. Thank You that Your way is true and righteous altogether. I want to follow You in truth and walk on the straight paths You have for my feet. I rejoice in Your cleansing, Your renewing, and Your healing presence within me. 
Amen


Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 6: Strength

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you, He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. On God my salvation and my glory rest. The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. The Lord will give strength to His people, the Lord will bless His people with peace. 'Your locks shall be iron and bronze, and according to your days, so shall your leisurely walk be.' 'Do not fear, for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy...

Psalm 55:22, Psalm 71:26, Psalm 62:7, Psalm 29:11, Deuteronomy 13:25, Isaiah 41:10, Jude 24

...
We cannot, in our own strength, live the life God wants us to live. It is not only difficult, it is impossible. Salvation is of the Lord. We cannot save ourselves or keep ourselves from the power of sin. He is the one who lifts us out of the pit of despair and sets our feet on the rock of Jesus Christ.

The life God has for us is an exchanged life—we exchange our own way for His perfect will...our selfish plans for His holy purpose...our soiled garments for His robes of righteousness...we exchange our weakness for His strength...our fear for His power...our emptiness for His fullness.

It is when we become poor in spirit that we can become rich toward God. Because His arms are around us, we can be assured that He will never leave us or release His hold upon our lives. What would be considered impossible for us becomes possible with God—we cannot, but He can, we have not, but He possesses all things. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 
...
Lord, 
I know if there is anything good that comes from my life it will be You doing it in and through me. I thank You that You have the power to save me and to keep me close to You. I believe You have me in Your hands and will keep me close to Your heart. You are my hope, my fortress, and my strength.
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission. All rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 5: Redemption

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people. Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 

Luke 1:68, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7

We needed a redeemer—someone who would buy us back from the captivity of sin and Satan over our lives. Jesus Christ is the only one who could pay the ransom that would free us from Satan's hold. There was only one price that could be paid to deliver us—the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

A young boy once made a beautiful toy sailboat out of wood. When he finished creating the boat, he took it to a nearby lake to sail. The boy was thrilled with his creation and proudly placed it in the water. The boat was all the boy had hoped it would be. All was well until a strong gust of wind blew the boat out of the boy's reach and out into the lake. In just a few minutes the boat was lost. Several weeks later when the boy passed a toy store, he noticed a sailboat int he window. Upon closer examination, the boy discover it was his boat. "That's my boat in your window," the boy said to the store owner, "and I'd like it back."

"I'm sorry," said the store owner, "but I own the boat now. If you want it, you'll have to buy it." When the boy found out the price for the boat, he went home and sold all he had to buy the boat back. After returning to the store with the full payment, the boy took the boat to his heart and said, "Little boat, you are twice mine now. I made you and I bought you."

And because of our redemption we are twice the Lord's—He made us and He bought us back with His blood. 

Lord, 
I am not my own. You have bought me with the price of Your own blood. I want to glorify You. Thank You that I am Your property and that Satan has no claim on me. I rejoice in the freedom I have in Jesus Christ. How blessed I am! You love me so much that You gave all You had to buy me back from the slavery of sin. 
Amen.

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 4: Grace

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden. But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Luke 4:18, James f:6, Titus 2:1, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8

...
The beauty of the Gospel is what we discover when broken by sin, we turn from the darkness of our own way to the light of Jesus Christ. We don't find a God of indifference who cares nothing about us, but a God of compassion and tender mercy. We don't find a God who is distant or unable to reach us because of His holiness, but a God who has totally identified Himself with our needs. we don't find a God of wrath who must be appeased, but a God who extends His grace and forgiveness to us freely.

Grace is the kindness and favor of God extended to you. It is nothing you can earn or deserve. Grace is God saying to you, "You can do nothing to save yourself; there is no need to even try because I have done it all. I have given My Son to die for you, and He has made the perfect sacrifice for your sin. Come and receive My free gift."

In grace there is no debt, no works, no bondage, no striving, no weight, no burden. Grace is favor and acceptance. Grace is the absolute bounty of God poured generously upon you with the oil to heal your wounds...the power to renew your strength...the goodness to restore your soul...the love to make all things new. Grace is the outstretched arms of God embracing you in His love.
...
Lord,
I marvel at Your grace. There is nothing I have done for You, yet You have done everything for me. I come to You broken, knowing You can make me whole...I come to You empty, knowing You can make me full...I come to You bound, knowing You can set me free. I come as a child in simplicity and faith to receive Your free gift of grace. Pour Your generosity upon me and make me whole. 
Amen

Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019, DaySpring. Used with permission, all rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 4: Grace

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Luke 4:18, James 4:6,Titus 2:1, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8
...

The beauty of the Gospel is what we discover when, broken by sin, we turn from the darkness of our own way to the light of Jesus Christ.  We don’t find a God of indifference who cares nothing about us, but a God of compassion and tender mercy; we don’t find a God who is distant, unable to reach us because of His holiness, but a God who has totally identified Himself with our need; we don’t find a God of wrath who must be appeased, but a God who extends His grace and forgiveness to us freely.

Grace is the kindness and favor of God extended to you. It is nothing you can earn or deserve. Grace is God saying to you, “You can do nothing to save yourself, but you don’t need to because I have done it all. I have given my Son to die for you, and He has made the perfect sacrifice for your sin. Come and receive My free gift.” In grace there is no debt, no works, no bondage, no striving, no weight, no burden. Grace is favor and acceptance. Grace is the absolute bounty of God poured generously upon you with the oil to heal your wounds...the power to renew your strength...the goodness to restore your soul...the love to make all things new.

...

Lord,
I marvel at Your Grace. There is nothing I have done for You, yet You have done everyting for me. I come to You broken, knowing You can make me whole...I come to You empty, knowing You can make me full...I come to You bound, knowing You can set me free. I come as a child in simplicity of faith, and receive Your free gift of grace. Pour Your generosity upon me and make me whole.

Amen


Written by Roy Lessin. ©2002, 2019, DaySpring. Used with permission. All rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 3: Repentance

He (John) came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' But go and learn what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. And hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' 'I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.'

Luke 3:3, Acts 20:21, Luke 18:13, Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17, Luke 15:7
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When we come out of our darkness into the light of Jesus Christ, we become broken by our sins. The light shows us that we are not whole but shattered...not worthy but guilty...not rich but bankrupt...not confident but desperate...not mighty but lowly...not holy but unclean. The light leaves us totally exposed—we see ourselves as God sees us, and the revelation breaks our hearts and shatters our pride. We don't seek to be patched or fixed up but to be made new. We realize we have no covering to hide in...no offering to hope in...no works to glory in. We are undone. We are sinners.

Our sorrow for our sins may bring remorse, but our repentance is more than remorse; our sorrow for our sins may lead us to restitution, but our repentance is more than restitution, our sorrow for our sins may create a desire to make resolutions, but repentance is more than resolutions.

Repentance means being sorry enough for our sin to stop, convicted enough by our sin to turn from it, broken enough from our sin to be willing to change. It is our repentance that turns us toward the Light. It is our need of Him that draws us to the light. It is our faith in Him that clothes us in the light. Our only covering is His righteousness...our only hope is His mercy...our only glory is the light of His holy love.
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Lord,
At the heart of my sin is the desire to have my own way. I choose to turn from my way to Your way...from my plans to Your purposes...from my independence to Your Lordship. I am sorry for the ways I have hurt You. As I turn to You, I hope in Your mercy, Your truth, and Your love. I place my life in Your hands for You to make me into the person You have created me to be.
Amen
Written by Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. ©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission. All rights reserved. 

Forgiven, Part 2: Guilt

As it is written, 'THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE.' But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 3:10, Isaiah 53:5, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:21

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It was the darkness and rebellion of our sin that sent Jesus Christ from heaven to earth on a mission of redemption. He came as light into the darkness, but those in the darkness were not able to understand it. He came even though we didn't know how desperately we needed Him. He came as a physician who didn't wait for office calls, but lived among us to seek and save those who were being destroyed by the plague of sin. He didn't die as a martyr or a reformer; He died as the spotless, sacrificial lamb, willing to make atonement for our sin. The mallet and the spikes were in our hands while goodness and mercy were in His...rebellion and deceit were in our character, grace and truth were in His...hardness and coldness were in our hearts, tenderness and compassion were in His. Jesus was the perfect offering for our imperfections—taking our judgement, bearing our sorrow, tasting our death, triumphing over our hell, and seeking to take us captive with the awesome power of resurrection life. ... Lord, I know my sin sent You to the cross. I thank You that You didn't just die for the world; You died for me. I know I am the guilty one. Everything I deserve was placed on You. I come to You without excuse, knowing I am fully responsible for my own sin. Thank You that through Your wounds I have found mercy and by them I can be healed. Amen

©2002, 2019 DaySpring. Used with permission. All rights reserved.