October 26, 2020
The Beauty of Grace
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Okay. As much as I HATE to use the bathroom on airplanes, on this particular flight it just simply couldn’t be helped. The water bottle that I’d drank on the way to the airport, combined with the several essential cups of morning coffee mandated the mid-flight excursion. So, at about 30,000 feet up – somewhere over rural Alabama – I unbuckled and walked the narrow, balance-beam aisle to the rear of the aircraft.
After tapping a chatty, aisle-strewn gentleman to squeeze by, I entered the shoebox lavatory. Upon closing the folding door my eyes adjusted to the incandescent lighting, and I began to prepare for my nature call. Then it happened.
A tiny “Pop!”
And the button on the top of my jeans flew off.
Oh no! I gasped... as a panicked tizzy of self-talk began.
This can’t happen now! I need these jeans to hold me in. My abs have all but forgotten how to take care of that function themselves! If I can’t get this button back on, it is going to look like I have a hernia the size of California under my blousy shirt! I’m going to die of embarrassment if my pants fall down on my way back to my seat! This is a serious FASHION EMERGENCY!
So, what does a good Christian girl do when in a “situation” such as this?
She prays.
Oh Lord of all things fashionable and cute. God of zippers, accessories, shoes and buttons ... hear my prayer! Please meet me in this fashion emergency. When I’m done with my business here, please – please – please allow the top of this button, that was on my rockin’ cool jeans, to click right back on to the base of the button. (Pause.) I trust You. I know that You are able! Amen.
Flush.
My heart raced and blood rushed through my veins in eager anticipation of a potential fashion miracle as I rose to my feet. I believed. I hoped. I prayed. The embellished silver button-top danced on my fingertips as I hesitated and hovered over the base.
Snap!
Oh Lord, Jesus! I just heard it snap! It snapped!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
And the seconds that followed were a blurred happy dance in a 24-inch by 24-inch cubicle. He heard me!! God cares about fashion!! He cares about buttons!! Thank you, Jesus!
As I exited the lavatory, the clouds parted ... and I beheld angels singing a glorious song of praise to our amazing, fashion-loving God. The End. (Smiles.)
All right, all right. I admit that this account of my mid-flight fashion dilemma may be a smidgeon drama-heavy. Even so, we all face “situations” day in and day out – at home, at the office, in relationships, in health, and in conversations – where we have an opportunity to call on God.
In this case for me it was a small thing. In the grand scale of life, it was an unimportant thing ... but I still talked to God about it. God welcomes us to approach Him with everything. Big and small.
He hears and helps.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).
We see a prayer for deliverance right at the beginning of Psalm 120. “I call on the Lord in my distress, and He answers me.” (Psalm 120:1) And in Psalm 121, the psalmist boasted confidently, “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
Nothing is too small to take to God in prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
God loves us and desires that we be in constant dialog with Him. Constantly dependent on His strength. Constantly requesting His wisdom, joy, peace, and intervention.
Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth century monk and author of “The Practice of the Presence of God,” wrote: “There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.”
We shouldn't limit our prayers to just heavy-hearted line items. We should do life with Him!
Yes – we need to approach God with reverence, with an acute awareness that He is God. He is holy, just and righteous. Always. But the beauty of grace is that we are invited to approach God at any time for any reason. Even with our frivolous fashion emergencies.
We can trust that God listens and cares.
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:13-16).
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for grace! Thank You for inviting me to come to You any time for any reason. Please make prayer my initial heart-response to the circumstances and challenges, as well as to the beauty-moments and joys that I experience today and every day.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Is there something you've been hesitant to talk to God about? Something you thought was too small or too messy?
Read Psalm 121 and spend some time in responsive prayer.
More from the Girlfriends
These studies will help you know what God says about tender topics like forgiveness, healing, fear, depression, relationships and hope. Each inductive study can be done in the comfort of your home and in a timeframe that fits with your personal schedule. Visit www.GwenSmith.net/BibleStudy to learn more.
© 2020 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
