Day 31 - The Grace of God

Christians understand the importance of prayer. Through our faith we follow Jesus who told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). He also assured them that prayers made in faith would be powerful, saying, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Whether alone or in company, some of us can pray eloquently, some of us need time to gather our thoughts, concerns and feelings into a prayer we deem worthy, and some of us need to use prayers provided through memory, books, websites or reflections such as this.

Jesus, of course, provided us with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4), our template for effective prayer, known, loved and shared by countless generations of believers.

But it isn’t the Lord’s Prayer that I want to reflect on today. Rather, it is the Grace Prayer which originates in 2 Corinthians 13:14, where the Apostle Paul concludes his letter with this blessing:

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

At our church we close worship services and meetings by sharing The Grace together – our Minister begins with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" and the congregation join in and continue with ‘and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen’

During Lent as we focus on Christ's sacrificial love and His journey to the cross, let us reflect that:

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" reminds us of the gift of salvation offered through Jesus's sacrifice.

"The love of God" draws attention to God's immense love, demonstrated in sending His Son for the redemption of humanity, encouraging deeper gratitude and trust in God.

"The fellowship of the Holy Spirit" reminds us that Lent calls for believers to walk together in faith, unity, and support, empowered by the Spirit's presence.

I hope that these lyrics will inspire our prayers today:

May grace of Christ, our Lord divine,

Redeem our hearts, and make them Thine.

In sorrow’s depths, we seek Your face,

Transform our lives with boundless grace.

Oh, wondrous love, so freely given,

Through Christ's own cross, the door to heaven.

In fellowship, we humbly pray,

Your Holy Spirit lights our way.

Through forty days, our hearts are tried,

With steadfast hope, in You we hide.

The love of God, so vast, so true,

Draws sinners home, restores us new.

Forgiveness flows from Calv'ry's hill,

A grace that breaks the bonds of will.

Your mercy leads, Your hands embrace,

Renewing all by saving grace.

Oh, wondrous love, so freely given,

Through Christ's own cross, the door to heaven.

In fellowship, we humbly pray,

Your Holy Spirit lights our way.

Tune: The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended (St Clement)

Lyrics crafted by Microsoft Copilot

Debbie Wilson