Saying Grace

 

It’s a popular scene, even in our secular culture:  the family gathered around the Thanksgiving table;  a hush begins to fall as someone singles out one of their members,  “…will you say grace?”

We’ve come to understand this to mean the saying of a short prayer before a meal;  more specifically, it signifies asking God’s blessing and giving Him thanks for the food.

I find this use of the word “grace” rather compelling, considering “grace” can also be defined as God’s free and unmerited favor, as demonstrated both through His plan of salvation for all mankind and His continued bestowment of blessings.  This causes one to think a little more about the act of merely “saying grace”.

“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ]

that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life]

through faith.

And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort],

but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law],

so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMP)

I purposely separated the lines on the above scripture passage, as I think it’s so important to slowly drink in that verse, meditating on the awesome significance of each part!

This Thanksgiving, when you gather around the table of feasting with your loved ones, thank the Father of lights for sending down to you every good thing and every perfect gift (James 1:17 AMP)!  And remember, when you say grace, thank Him for His ultimate gift of Grace given to you through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His only, Holy Son, Jesus, and His unmerited favor given to you daily, through no worthiness of your own!

“Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ…In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].  In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”  Ephesians 1: 3-8 AMP

May the Peace of God Daily Grace your lives, as His Precious Holy Spirit fills you with all Strength and Wisdom, in Jesus’ Powerful Name. Amen!

With Love and Merry Wishes for a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Sarah