From the Inside Out
A Grace Filled Life
A grace-filled life (1|2)
Pages 243-249
Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV) Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV) Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
How does the Holy Spirit shape and train us to live according to the ways of grace? What does it mean that all of life serves as God’s “training ground” for our maturity and fruitfulness?
Can you think of a time when God used a difficult or confusing situation to teach you more about His grace or to deepen your dependence on Him? How did the Holy Spirit help you through that process?
Have you ever faced a season when your feelings didn’t align with your faith?
Why do you think God allows us to experience weakness and failure, even after salvation?
Can you think of a time when your own failure or weakness helped you experience God’s grace and strength more fully? How did that moment shape your understanding of His faithfulness?