Going in Grace

Today, we're reflecting on the powerful topics that we've explored during the first quarter of 2025. Yeah, I said it. The first quarter of 2025 is already complete. It's been an incredible journey, and we've been diving into themes that resonate deeply with our walk in faith and our lives. But today, I want to challenge you. Don't just listen. Remember the mission of Going in Grace. We do not simply understand the word. We do something with the word, choosing to live it out daily.

With one quarter of the year complete, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and prayerfully choose one or two areas to focus on this season. Let's work together to not only hear the word, but to apply it, transforming our lives in the process.

This quarter, we've covered a lot of ground. Let's take a moment to revisit these topics. As I do, I want you to be introspective and listen for any promptings from Holy Spirit on where you need to focus. We opened up the quarter with finding rest in a hustle culture. We discussed the busyness of life and in Matthew 11:28, we saw where Jesus invites us to find rest in Him. "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." True rest comes when we release control and trust God's timing.

Next, we discussed work God's way. Ecclesiastes 9:10a reminds us, whatever your hands finds to do, do it with your might. We discussed aligning our work with God's purpose and pursuing excellence for His glory. To finish up the first month of the year, we talked about the value of friendship. Proverbs 27:17 teaches "as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." We reflected on cultivating godly friendships and being present for others. Next up, we talked about speaking truth, communicating a simple yes or no. Matthew 5:37 calls us to integrity, "but let your yes be yes and your no, no. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

God is merciful came up next. Psalm 103:8 captures it beautifully. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. We celebrated God's endless mercy and how we can mirror it toward others. Then we went into love. We spent two weeks on this topic. The first week we talked about the true meaning of love beyond Valentine's Day. We discussed 1 Corinthians 13, and now we know that surpasses fleeting emotions. Love is patient, kind, and never self-seeking. Then we balanced that with a lesson on agape and self-love. How do we keep our heart with all diligence? For out of it spring the issues of life. We discussed healthy boundaries and God's agape love as our guide.

Lesson eight was overcoming worry, finding peace in God's promises. Philippians 4:6 through 7 told us, be anxious for nothing, but in everything, let your requests be made known to God. Peace begins when we surrender our worries to Him. We wrapped up this quarter with three great lessons. First, finding our identity in Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 proclaims, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." We are defined by his love, not the world's standards. Guarding the gates to our soul. Philippians 4:8 reminded us to be careful what we think about and therefore watch and listen to. We were challenged to remember that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we must guard our eyes, ears and hearts from harmful influences. Then finally, we talked about finding true freedom in Christ. John 8:32 reminds us, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. We discussed oppression and determined to walk in the freedom found in Jesus alone.

Now that we've revisited these things, let's make sure we're reflecting. Which of these areas is God calling you to focus on? Let me share some practical tips for effective change. First, seek guidance through prayer. If you haven't determined where the Lord wants you to focus during your quiet time this week, ask God to reveal the area where he wants you to grow. Proverbs 3:6 encourages, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths. Two, set specific faith-based goals. Whether it's resting in God's promises, cultivating friendships, or guarding your heart, set actionable steps. For example, commit to starting each day with a scripture about rest, if that's your focus. Third, use accountability partners. Share your goals with a trusted friend or mentor. Ecclesiastes 4:9 through 10 reminds us, two are better than one, for if they fall, one will lift up his companion. Four, immerse yourself in scripture. Let the word anchor you. If you're a combating worry, meditate on Philippians 4:6 through 7. If you're exploring identity, revisit 2 Corinthians 5:17. And finally, number five, practice gratitude and reflection.

Regularly reflect on what God is doing in your life and thank him for the progress, no matter how small. Remember, change doesn't happen overnight. It's a journey and God is faithful to walk with you every step of the way. Thank you for joining me on this journey through the first quarter of 2025. Can we say, yay, we did it. As we move forward, let's commit to not just being hearers of the word, but doers as well. I'd love to hear how God is working in your life. So feel free to share your stories or prayer requests with me. You can find me at brandistover.com. Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Let's keep pressing forward together.