Three Powerful Life-Changing Words | Judy Douglas
By Judy Douglass
In my conversations with those who love a prodigal, with someone going through hard times, with anyone in an uncertain time, I usually end up at the same place, with these three words: love, mercy, grace.
These words are filled with encouragement and hope. When I remember them and choose to believe what God says to me about them, I am changed. Sometimes my circumstances change. And often I see new ways that God is answering my prayers.
Let’s just take a brief look at what God has to say about each one.
LOVE
Our God lavishes love on us always and forever.
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those fear him.” (Psalm 103:11)
“But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.” (Romans 5:8 The Message).
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear….”(1 John 4:18)
“We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” (1 John 4:19, The Message)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
MERCY
Because of His great love for us, He sent Jesus to take our sins and He pours mercy on us over and over.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-25, NLT)
“But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” (Nehemiah 9:31)
“Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” (Psalm 25:6)
“In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)
“To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:77-79)
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,…” (Titus 3:5)
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:3-5)
“Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:3)
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
GRACE
As we live in His love, rescued by His mercy, we can walk day by day and moment by moment in His generous gift of grace.
“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man [Adam], how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!” (Romans 5:15)
“We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.” (Romans 5:7-8, The Message)
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
So, as I begin to comprehend the unfathomable love of God, I recognize that His love prompted His mercy to forgive all my sin. And then He gives even more—amazing grace, all-sufficient grace, endless grace—to take us through every part of our journeys.
What about you? Which of these words encourages you most often?
Judy Douglass is married to Steve Douglass - President and CEO of Cru - and has three delightful children and nine superb grandchildren. Judy says her “friends so fill my cup that I am drinking from the saucer.” Judy is a writer, speaker, and missionary with Cru. She has written a few books, edited a couple of magazines, and helped found Synergy Women’s Network. She has spoken to groups from eight to 8,000 and writes about women, prodigals, becoming a true follower of Jesus, the homeless, grandparenting, andlearning from children.