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For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16, ESV).
We are created for habits. Recent brain studies indicate that our brains lay down neural pathways that reinforce behavior, and once a path is set, it’s difficult to change. Not impossible — but not easy.
We experience addiction with food cravings, too much alcohol, sensuality, even innocent behaviors becoming obsessive — all because of those neural pathways.
What can be done? Let’s become addicted to grace! As Paul writes. . .
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
The more we experience grace, the more we want grace, and grace provides supernatural assistance to “re-groove” our brains, overlaying the negative with the positive.
An example in my life: I’m addicted to prayer and reading my Bible in the morning. If I wake up at 3 a.m. with anxiety, I look forward to bathing my brain in God’s grace during my morning devotions.
I can’t help it, I must pray and read my Bible! I confess, it’s an addiction. We should all be addicted to grace. How do we receive abounding grace?
Fortunately, we don’t have to pay for grace. . .
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
The difference between Christianity and all other religions is grace! Religions work like a mortgage — constant payments, hoping someday and somehow to pay off the debt. Grace is a gift. Our confidence of salvation doesn’t rely on our blood, sweat, and tears but on the blood of Jesus.
God gives grace despite our weaknesses and sins. . .
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9a).
Grace is different from the flesh: while we easily succumb to the flesh, we often resist God’s grace. We want to work it out — we weren’t at fault, we resist change, and though grace is free, we must pay the price of repentance.
However, the more humility we have, the more we become addicted to grace. . .
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
I’ve found in my walk with Jesus, that I have a “grace switch.”
When needing change, if I can flip this switch, grace floods my brain, my attitudes, and my actions. Enjoying this newness of grace, I drink deeply and often, finding myself loving my new self, more than my former way of living, and since I’m now addicted to this new path, I don’t want to return to my former life.
Amen, addicted to grace!
But 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. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).