Cleaning Your Slate with Grace

My view of January and a new year is a little different than most of you reading this, I’m sure. I’m a twenty year old college student and a new year brings quite a bit of change. I just started a new semester with new classes, a new work schedule, new study partners and new obligations. I’m learning to play golf (I’m awful, truly) and I’m co-running a marketing plan for a giant fundraiser in March. I love this season of the semester because I still have so much to prove. My papers are blank, I haven’t messed up yet. A new semester is kind of like grace.

That’s what I love about a new year~there is a spirit of newness, a blank sheet, the feeling of GRACE.

That’s what I love about a new year~there is a spirit of newness, a blank sheet, the feeling of GRACE. #freshstart

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What does this look like? How do we define it? How can we biblically know and understand grace?

Repeatedly, grace is mentioned in the Bible; 49 times and across 21 different books just the WORD is used. That’s not counting the numerous references and stories where it’s explained and exemplified. I love to read about grace in the context of Jesus’ closest human interactions. When Jesus came and walked with men, he chose the people you’d least expect to be disciples. He awarded grace to the tax collector, the doubter, to the man who would eventually betray him. He said, come I have something new. The original January. The original fresh start. He does same for us today. He calls out “Come, I have something new! Let me give you new life.”

We can look to 2 Corinthians 5:17 to see this spelled out for us.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

The new is here. He has made you new, the mistakes you’ve made are paid for and you are free to celebrate your life. By Christ alone, grace has covered you.

Jesus chose us as disciples of His word. He awarded us a new life, a blank sheet, a new semester full of possibilities! Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities ahead that are only possible because of The Son.

As we come out of a season of celebration of our Savior’s birth- I think it’s only fitting to intentionally integrate our lives with His greatest idea. Give grace to yourself, give grace to those around you and seek to find examples of His grace towards you in your daily lives.

Here are two things you can reflect on as you make your way through the new year.

1. Define grace in your own words, write it down, and then place it somewhere where you’ll see it consistently
2. Contemplate on times where you’ve been awarded grace by others and how that may have shaped your day or week. How can you do that for someone else?

“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 ESV

I’ll be praying for you.

Kaitlyn

Guest Contributor:

Kaitlyn Harris is a 20 year old college student at Baylor University. She’s a Psychology major with hopes of one day being a therapist for children with special needs and developmental disorders. She’s involved with the Peer Leader Program and Baylor’s Student Foundation. Kaitlyn loves the opportunity to serve the student body and give back, as she was loved so well her first two years. These organizations and Baylor as an institution push her as an individual to love others well and to serve with a heart like Jesus. She truly believes God has called her to serve the underserved and her goal is to point others towards the Gospel in whatever job or position He places her. She is an occasional contributor to Peacefully Imperfect.