The Gift of God

Several weeks ago, I was feeling frustrated because a particular worry had taken root in my mind and refused be pulled out. I thought to myself something like: God just did some sort of healing in my brain a few weeks ago; I shouldn’t still be struggling with worries and OCD. I should be a lot better at this by now! Yes, I was being a bit impatient.

Well, I asked my mom about my feelings and, through her, the Lord reminded me what our spiritual journeys are all about - His grace. It is by His grace, and that alone, that we grow spiritually and fulfill the purpose(s) He gave us. We, in and of ourselves, don’t have the power to do or affect anything spiritual. It is only through God, who dwells in us, that we do. Shortly after my conversation with my mom, Ephesians 2:8 came to mind: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -” This is the reason why we have access to such grace. Because Jesus died and rose, God is able to save us by grace. Because God saves us by grace, it is also by grace that He grows us spiritually and that He gives us each a purpose and allows us to fulfill that purpose.

As I was pondering these things, I started to have that feeling like God wanted me to write a hymn about these truths. He did; and, over the course of a few days, this is what He gave me:

The Gift of God

Verse 1:

Christ died that we might die to sin

And lives that we might live through Him.

His Father saw us blind and lost

And knew that we were worth the cost.

Chorus:

This is not of our hands,

But God’s right hand that saves.

This is not of our strength,

But God’s great pow’r displayed.

This is not of our hearts,

But works that Christ has wrought.

This is not of ourselves -

This is the gift of God.

Verse 2:

By grace, Christ shapes us in His mold;

In Him, we will come forth as gold.

For we are chosen and adored

As dwellings of our risen Lord.

(Chorus)

Verse 3:

The Savior called us, as His own,

To stand before His heav’nly throne.

He chose us, sinful, weak, and flawed,

To show the world the gift of God.

(Chorus)

© Sabrina Brem 2021