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Graceless

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."
I Peter 3:4 

What an eventful month it has been! I challenged myself to run 100km in June and I can't believe it ... I actually succeeded! Don't ask what possessed me to take on that challenge in one of the hottest months of the year. I'm really not sure!

In other exciting news, I finally ran a mile faster than my goal of 8:30! I finished a mile this past Saturday in 8:23. Not only that, but I kept running! I finished 1.5 miles in 13:43 and 2 miles in 19:03. It was a very happy day for me!

And lastly, I finally got a hybrid bicycle! I can't wait to start cross training ... and trying something new while talking to God!

While doing my Bible reading today, I came across I Peter 3:4, "You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

This verse hit a nerve with me.

Why?

Because this verse describes someone I'm not.

Over the past couple of days, I've read What's So Amazing About Grace? by Phillip Yancey and In My Father's House by Corrie ten Boom. Both books made me desperately yearn to be more grace-filled and Christ-minded.

I truly want to have a gentle and quiet spirit. 

I desire to show others grace, even when it's not easy.

Especially when it's not easy!

In Yancey's book, he states, "When it comes to grace, the word deserve doesn't even apply."

No one deserves grace. That's what makes it so amazing!

It genuinely hurts my heart to see the church in such a state of un-grace.

But even more so, it hurts that I'm in such a state.

My prayer is that I become more aware of my gracelessness and that when I see it, I admit it, and I beg God to help me overcome it. 

I want to be a person who is comfortable with conversational prayer. I want to lean on Christ day in and day out, talking to him continually about all things, big and small.

Lord, heal me. Help me to become gentle, to give grace, to speak to You, and to pour out Your Love.

"My help comes from the LORD, who made Heaven and Earth!"
Psalm 121:2

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