Verse of the Day


"Rise up, this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it!"

~Ezra 10:4


Today's Devotional Thought

November 03, 2011 by Rachel Piferi



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Grace in Growth

Extending grace to ourselves can be very hard. I think that is why today's passage in Ezra hit me so strongly and why I decided to write a devotion on it for today. You see, I often get impatient or disappointed in myself if I don't act or do or perform as well as I think I should. And when I am learning a new skill or taking on a new challenge, I can get really easily hurt or disappointed in myself when I have made an error. I guess you could blame it on my perfectionism, but ultimately it seems that I am really bad at extending grace to myself for the growth that is necessary in this journey called life.

One thing I admire in others is when they can make mistakes or do things poorly and then they own it and correct it. They seem to have a peace about who they are and they are humble and earnest enough to want to correct their mistakes and move in the correct direction. And, what you often see in them is this grace that they extend to themselves, they also extend towards others. Its actually quite beautiful and I believe, quite spiritually mature, to understand when someone is earnestly trying to be all they can be for Christ and sometimes, they just stumble in their growth while they're trying to get there.

In today's passage in Ezra, you see a group of people who were earnest in their desire to correct their mistake. And you see a man, Ezra, who guided them as they corrected it. It took some time, but they grew in their relationship with the Lord, and God and Ezra extended them grace for this growth journey.

Do you have something in your life that you are trying to change or become? And, are you finding yourself disappointed or frustrated when you don't change or become that person fast enough? May I pray that you begin to extend grace to yourself as you earnestly grow into the person that God (and you) wants you to be and encourage someone else as they are growing too.


Memorize this verse today:

"Rise up, this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it!"
~Ezra 10:4



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