Stepping Stones: Prevenient Pursuit and Grace

Transformational Tip

Most kids don’t come into the world totally randomly. Most people have been thinking since their childhood about how many kids they will have, how they will parent them, will get an apartment or house with extra bedrooms, plan a nursery, even planning the sexual activity…all before the pregnancy even starts.

Did you know the work of God is present in our lives “before” we are even aware of it? In fact, millennia before we were even born. He is with us from conception to conversion.

The word prevenient means, “to come before”. Think about this for a moment; God is there waiting for us in anticipation of the loving relationship He desires. God pursues this relationship…he “courts” us through love and grace. It’s unassuming…never forced.

He is there wooing us, hoping we accept his offer. We were created to have this beautiful romance with God. And without it, we will forever feel emptiness..… then we turn to ungodly substitutes.

Today, take a look at what you are pursuing instead of God. What hollow and harmful substitutes are you letting Satan entice you with? What are you turning to to meet your needs…. soothe you…. bring you comfort…help you escape your troubles. Anything other than God, or what He provides, is a dangerous counterfeit. Know the Lord is seeking you. Are you ready to receive the love and gifts He offers?

Prayer
Dear Father, I come to You with a humble, yet thankful heart. It’s always so amazing to me to know that in spite of my wrong choices, Your love and grace continue to flow to me. What an awesome thought; You have been there waiting for me even before I was born. Waiting with Your ever-present offer of a personal romance with me. I thank You for the love You give me. My Lord and God, please help me seek You as you seek me. I know now that my acceptance of You changes everything. You have said yes to me at creation and yes again at the cross when You sent Your only Son to die for my sins. I say yes to You Lord. I say yes to the greatest gift anyone could imagine.
I pray this surrounded by Your grace and mercy and through Your Son Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:27

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39