“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John 1:16 NASB

“The essence of the Christian Gospel is grateful receptivity.” E. Stanley Jones

I discovered E. Stanley Jones in 1983 while recuperating from broken bones in an Indian orphanage. The Christ of the Indian Road, written in 1930 was filled with joy and passion and a truly Christlike outlook. I was at once captivated and discipled by his words. At 88 after suffering a stroke he wrote one more book called The Divine Yes. His earlier joy, love and delight rings out on every page just as his earliest books. This joy is a wonder and a mystery. As I age and face the challenges of aging, I reach out to this dear author once again to discover his secret.

I believe it is summed up by the quote above. That in every season of our lives, through the blessings and the trials, the accomplishments and the failures, the times of plenty and the leaner times, in every season we remain focused on the One who loves us most, and from a heartfelt place, give thanks. For this gratitude paves the way for us to receive God’s grace.

As I get older, the passing years can seem as a revolving door, going round and round, faster and faster. I know at some point I need to get out of that door and find the purpose for entering the building, but there are times I feel so inadequate. At those times, at my weakest and most vulnerable, I remind myself of God’s goodness to me. I remember the victories. Answered prayers. And as I meditate on His lovingkindness, I can feel both my faith arise, and my heart opening to receive from Him once again.

God is God for the present moment. Right here, right now. His promises for us are YES and they are AMEN. Morning by morning His mercies are new as we turn our eyes to Him. He is still the One who says, “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11.

I may have run out of steam, out of vision, out of direction for my todays, but thankfully that has NEVER been the Lord’s problem. I love the verse in Psalm 139 where it says, “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber even the sands of the seas!”

God ALWAYS has a good idea about us. Lord! Help us to receive NOW!

~ Debbie Ecker