30 Days of HeartworkSample

Healing Grace

HEART //

We were born into a world in great need of healing. Overwhelmed by the sins (separation from God) of everyone in our life and destined to repeat them, we have all experienced shame and guilt. The world around us offers quick-fixes that crumble quickly under any real pressure. We search desperately for answers and meaning, but the search leaves us more deeply broken.

God loves us so much that he sees and loves us even in our brokenness. That love makes a way for his strength to overcome our weakness... by giving his very Son, coming to earth as a man, and dying the death that we deserve. It is God’s grace that pardoned all our sins and makes us new (Romans 5:8).

Our amazing God then cleanses and heals our brokenness! This is quite a miracle because it's a complete reality for all who welcome God into our hearts, AND it's a lifelong process! His grace replaces our shame and we are changed from masters of sin to sons and daughters in his Kingdom. "Though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that we, through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

When we receive God’s love, we embrace the fact that we are weak and let his power be the strength of our lives. We live in the realization of our imperfection and welcome him to fill our lives to overflowing. This can feel so strange, because in our independent culture, we are all tempted to believe that "success" is doing it (whatever "it" is) on our own!

As we cultivate "spending ourselves for others", let's remember that generosity is a grace given by God. It doesn’t come naturally to us, but it is a gift. To get the chance to be like Jesus is always a gift.

WORK //

As you reflect on your adoption as a son or daughter of God, think about those without a family, without rights, and without dignity. It is estimated that almost 21 million people worldwide are victims of forced labor (think: slavery) right now* and these slave trades significantly impact every economy on earth, including our own. Choose some time this week to spend in silence and without touching anyone (these two challenges can be done together or separately, like, you could try to go a day without touching, just to see how important that human interaction is!) to empathize with children who have no one speaking up for them or comforting them. Beforehand, let your friends and family know what you will be doing and why. Pray for those around the world who experience that same loneliness every day.

* Statistic from ilo.org (International Labor Organization, an agency of the United Nations)