Your Year of Grace

2 P & P Weekly blog for week of 4 - 10 January 2025

The Gift of a New Day!

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—and all that fills them. Then, He followed these days with a day of rest known as the Sabbath. This day was not for Him in the sense that He was exhausted from His efforts. Instead, it was a day to be set aside for His honor and glory and our benefit. It’s a day to worship Him as Creator, as our Provider, and the Lord as our Faithful Father. It’s a gift to us to pause and reflect upon His presence, provision, and faithfulness. Creation established our pattern for the observation of a week. 

Weeks, months, and years—the very documentation of our days—and thus 2025—are established upon the foundation of Jesus’ birth. Think of it—all of creation—an amazing star, wisemen, angels, shepherds, kings and ordinary people, animals, Mary and Joseph—were all part of the advent of time as we know it! 

But did you know that 5s in the Bible denote “grace?” I found this to be a fascinating fact—in light of our lives and times. It got me thinking. Grace, by definition, means God’s undeserved favor toward us, His ability to sanctify us, or His ability to forgive and make our lives right before Him. What a cherished thought, right? 

Many of us are familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

These verses clearly support my definition above. God’s grace to save us results from faith—which ultimately comes from His Spirit—not from anything we can accomplish. 

2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV): echoes the theme of this truth. “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

So, what do these verses have to do with the New Year? I'm glad you asked. Because I think the Lord may be calling us to experience more of His grace. 

What area might He want to grace—with more of Himself by drawing us into closer communion? How might His grace pave the way for deeper devotion and greater obedience? How might His grace make you bolder to share your faith with others? How might grace change a habit that you know is displeasing to the Lord—by surrendering it to the Lord fully? Might He be challenging you to forgive or make “right” a relationship? How might He want to sanctify or “set apart” your life to be used for His kingdom? 

We say “grace” before meals—in order to acknowledge that the food that we are about to eat has come from God’s hand. But perhaps we should realize that each new day that we’re given is also a gift of God’s grace to us. Each breath, each family member, each friend, our church, our neighborhood, our children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews, etc—and the opportunities that He affords us to live, work, and play for His glory are all signs of His grace. And if we are called sons/daughters of the King, then we’ve received the gift of grace—Salvation—for which we should be most grateful. 

Grace is a gift to us that is meant to be shared. This grace dates all the way back to His birth. This same grace will mark every day of the coming year—if you (and I) surrender our lives to God’s Will, purpose, and plan. Your year of grace will be off to a great adventure—if you trust every day of it—to His omnipotent care! 

I leave you with this blessing from 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV): “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” Happy New Year!

by: deborah goshorn-stenger 2 Pause and Praise Creations ©