30 Days of HeartworkSample

Healing Grace

HEART //

We were born into a world in great need of healing. Any exposure to the news can leave us overwhelmed by the sins (separation from God) of the people around us. Maybe even in your own family, sins have defined aspects of your life, and you feel destined to repeat them. Whether the pain of sin feels near or far, we have all experienced shame and guilt. The world around us offers quick fixes that crumble quickly under any real pressure.

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. Our perfect father gave his very son, Jesus, who came to earth as a man and died for us. It is God’s grace that pardoned all our sins and made 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 imperfections 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 the skill of 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. The chance to become more 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/or without touching anyone (these two challenges can be done together or separately). For example, you could try to go a day without touching, just to see how important human interaction is. You'll 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)