God Wants Us Now

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 16, 2025

God Wants Us Now

And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

Romans 11:6

The Apostle Paul, in the passage above, was referring to the remanent of Jews in Israel who were remaining faithful to Christ as the Messiah. Paul said they were established as part of the new community of believers through God’s grace, not through their good works. This observation of Paul points us to another foundation stone in our life in Christ; God wants us now.

Every pastor has had the experience of asking a parishioner to serve in the church only to be told they were too busy with their job. “Ask me when I retire and I’ll be happy to help out” was often the reply the pastor heard. Perhaps they did have a busy work life, but more often I think their reluctance to serve was based on their self-perception that they were not ready, not good enough yet to serve in Christ’s church.

An appropriate response may well be, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8) God did not wait until we were perfected. God did not wait until we deserved Him through our good works. No God didn’t wait; God wants us now. God has been forming and will continue to form Christ in us until we are perfected. (Philippians 1:6, 2:13) But he doesn’t wait. He wants us just as we are.

My Takeaway: As is. Much property is offered for sale, as is. That is exactly how God took me, and you. As is.  For me, I was much in the same condition as the prodigal when I came home to God. Nevertheless, He crowned me with righteousness. As I was. Remembering God’s acceptance of me helps we remain in His grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Voice of Truth

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 15, 2025

The Voice of Truth

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 

the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV) 

When we were walking out of church recently, a woman, admiring Cheryl’s hair, said to her, “When you look in the mirror, it must make you smile.” That was such a nice compliment for her. But I wonder if for most of us, do we smile when we see ourselves in a mirror? Think again about that quote from N. T. Wright I often mention: The world is telling us a pack of lies about who we are, who God is and who our neighbors are. But God in Christ Jesus is telling us the truth.”

As we are seeking the life in Christ as our way of life, one of our foundational stones is continually listening to the voice of truth. The voice of truth, God’s voice, calls us to embrace our identity in Christ. When we do, we exhibit Hebrews 11:1 faith --- the assurance of things hoped for (new life in Christ), and the conviction of our right standing with God.

As we listen to the voice of truth, we affirm with God that because Christ redeemed our souls, we are a new creation of infinite worth. We are deeply loved and completely forgiven. We are fully pleasing to God and totally accepted by God. We are complete in Christ. When our lives reflect our new identity in Christ, that reflection is dynamically unique. There has never been another person like us in the history of mankind, nor will there ever be. God has made us an original, one of a kind, a special person.

Trusting in the voice of truth, when my eyes see my faults, my faith sees my Savior, Christ Jesus. When my eyes see my guilt, my faith sees the blood of Jesus shed for me.

My Takeaway: I wear a Jerusalem cross I purchased in Israel and often, during the day, I touch it. For me, it is like the ring of grace the father put on his prodigal’s finger when he came home. These touches remind me to live by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

I Appointed You

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 14, 2025

I Appointed You

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

    Before you were born I set you apart

    and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5

First, a bit of context. I have noted before N.T. Wright’s statement "What is true for Christ is true for you." This means that for those who are in Christ, the spiritual realities that are true of Jesus are also true for them. This includes righteousness, or right-standing before God, access to God, and the promise of eternal life, all received through faith in Christ. And the Apostle Paul noted in Romans 2 that God is not a respecter of persons, which means that God does not show favoritism or partiality towards individuals based on external factors like wealth, social status, race, or any other human-defined characteristic. When we take these two truths together, we can see that God’s word to Jeremiah, quoted above, is as true for us as it was for Jeremiah.

God knew me, and you, before He formed us in our mother’s womb. And before we were born, He set us apart and appointed us. As for me, I was appointed to be a United Methodist preacher for the congregations where He sent me. God appoints us all to a particular work or service where, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we get to build for the Kingdom of God.

The day I am writing this has been average for me. I enjoyed a few hours of tennis on a cool July morning. I made lunch for Cheryl and me and then I participated in a committee meeting for my HOA. The rest of the day will be relaxing. Even so, my Heavenly Father knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb. Before I was born, He appointed me to be a pastor to his children.

My Takeaway: My worth, my value is not because of what I do, but because of whose I am. This truth inspires me to seek to stay firmly in God’s grace for today. How about you?

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Tale of Three Kings

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 11, 2025

A Tale of Three Kings

I cry aloud to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

Psalm 3:4 (NRSV)

It is during adversity, both big and small, that the depth of our Life in Christ is revealed. The adversity may involve someone being rude or cutting us off in traffic, or perhaps we see everything we have worked for being lost through divorce, business failure or personal bankruptcy. How we respond to these circumstances reveals what we believe about God and how deeply Christ has transformed our life.

Near the end of King David’s reign, his son Absalom led a rebellion against David and seized the throne of Israel. That’s adversity. Gene Edward deals with the adversity in David’s life in his book, A Tale of Three Kings. It is the story of David’s relationship with both King Saul and Absalom. This book is a Christian classic and is a valuable addition to the personal library of every Christian.

Psalm 3 was written by King David during Absalom’s rebellion. David responded to the revolt by expressing his deep trust in God:

If God wants me to be on the throne, no one can take it away.

if God doesn’t want me on the throne there is nothing, I can do to keep it.

This trust is revealed in the movement of the psalm from a description of the crisis to his calling out to God for help. David affirms he can rest because God hears him, God fights the battle, and God blesses His people.

Today, as I read Psalm 3, two details caught my attention. First, David “cried out to the Lord.” I don’t know about you, but I know I try way too hard to keep my life under control. David’s psalm is an invitation for me to ask myself, “When was the last time I cried out to the Lord?” Am I heeding Jesus’ invitation to keep on asking, to keep on seeking, and especially to keep on knocking?

The second detail was the connection between David’s trust in God and a good night’s sleep. This is the peace that passes all understanding that Paul speaks of in Philippians 4. David’s circumstances had not changed, but he was able to rest because he knew the Lord was watching over him. (Psalm 4 also speaks about “In peace I will lie down and sleep . . .”

My Takeaway: Every day we all face adversities. How we respond to these adversities reveals the depth of our Life in Christ. This prayer Cheryl and I say at bedtime helps me stay in the grace for each day, come what may: “Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Purpose of Life

 Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

July 10, 2025

The Purpose of Life

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,

all your soul, and all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:37-38 

Psalm 2 provides context for Jesus’ imperative. First, some background. Nations rebelled against God’s Sovereignty. But God, out of the abundance of His mercy, sent His only begotten Son, the Messiah, as the way of restoration and harmony with God. Our appropriate response to God’s Messiah is subordination to and worship of God. However, devoting our life to God has always been risky because the ways of God conflict with the ways of the world. Psalm 2 addresses a heavenly view of all history as well as the future beyond the horizon.

In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested. Immediately after their release from jail, they rejoined the other believers, and they all prayed together. (See Acts 4:23-31) They began their prayer by quoting Psalm 2:1-2, “…The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah” (Acts 4:26). Their prayer reveals they were encountering vicious resistance to their witness for Jesus, and so they prayed, “. . . give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30).

Today, the followers of Christ are a minority in the world and in the USA. Today, there is much resistance, including violence, to the witness for Jesus Christ in our culture. Today, we need to follow the example of the forbearers of our faith in Jerusalem two thousand years ago and pray for courage to boldly proclaim the Word of the Lord. I believe, with every fiber of my being, that when believers come together to pray, we will share in this experience of our ancestors in the cause of Christ: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).

My Takeaway: Our forbearers in Christ, acted on Jesus’ imperative to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind. Oh Lord, may we be empowered for your work today, as we trust in the sufficiency of your grace for today!

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Becoming Fully Human

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 9, 2025

Becoming Fully Human

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise,

like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

Matthew 7:24 

Jesus’ words here are an affirmation of his imperative: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). When we seek to embody within our lives the teachings of Jesus, we become fully human, just as our divine master was fully human. Life lived without adhering to his principles is a sub-human life.

A life lived with a focus on greed, or the accumulation of power, or living only for pleasure will all collapse in time. In contrast, those who make seeking the life in Christ their way of life will experience the presence of Christ in their life today and will inherit the promise of eternal life, which is life in Christ uninterrupted by death.

Jesus taught that ultimately, the most important aspect in life is how we perceive God. If we perceive God as generous, gracious, loving, and faithful, we will then embrace the Gospel as truly Good News and joyfully enter the Kingdom of God. In our culture, so many people believe human life is nothing more than billions of years of evolution and survival of the fittest. Such a worldview hardly motivates people to get out of their comfort zone and live self-sacrificial lives.

My Takeaway: Over and against this reality of present-day life, Jesus is saying that if I choose to live under the reign of my generous, gracious, loving and faithful God, my mission is to live my life as salt and light for those for whom the love of God is still a stranger.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Living in the Present

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 8, 2025

Living in the Present

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Matthew 6:34

Two of the greatest temptations facing the followers of Christ is living in the past and living in the future. Jesus addressed this issue and encouraged his friends to not worry. Easier said than done for most of us!

Sometimes we find ourselves in the grip of regret about our past. All Christians struggle with this, not the least of which was the Apostle Paul. We first encounter Paul while he is holding the coats of those who martyred Stephen. Next, we learn that he has been promoted to the leader of those making brutal assaults on the followers of Christ. Certainly, Paul had plenty from his past that could have haunted him and immobilized him in service to God. But Paul fully accepted God’s forgiveness and embraced his calling to proclaim the Gospel of grace. The foundation of his ability to live in the present moment is contained in two verses:

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NRSV), and

 

“but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

We also can get easily snared in the trap of fretting about what tomorrow holds. Jesus didn’t sugar-coat his counsel: don’t worry about tomorrow because today has more than enough issues to keep us occupied. Whether we find ourselves tempted to be obsessed with our past failures or consumed with worry about what may happen in the future, the result is the same; we miss out on what is happening right now, where God has placed us.

Today, a person may cross our path who needs a word of encouragement, or correction. Today we may have an opportunity to engage an issue for which God has uniquely prepared us. Today, our great God needs us to be ready and willing to be used as His vessels of grace.

My Takeaway: We don’t want to miss our assignments from God because we are caught up regretting our past or being pre-occupied with what may happen down the road. Instead, let’s remain in God’s grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Salt & Light

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 7, 2025

Salt & Light

“You are the salt of the earth.

You are the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:13a, 14a

The Apostle Paul teaches us of our responsibility to cooperate with God in His mission to form Christ within us: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). Our Godly desire is to make the life in Christ, our way of life. When we do, we become salt and light to the world.

It is so very essential that the followers of Jesus embrace and own this call: we are to be salt and light! I can see an obstacle immediately as I think of my life. First, for me personally, I want to avoid conflict. However, Jesus said it is into the fray we are called. I must admit there is hesitation within as I try to emulate Isaiah’s response to God’s call: “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). It is unnatural for me to want to be salt and light where discord and strife abound. The Scottish poet, Charles Mackay, offers me insight to my tendency to avoid conflict:

“You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the work that you have done. You’ve hit no traitor on the hip. You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip. You’ve never turned the wrong to right. You’ve been a coward in the fight.”

My Takeaway: Jesus’ word to me today is a stirring reminder that my life matters to him. He can see all the 7.5 billion people in the world, one at a time, including me. He knows me and knows where I am. The desire of his heart is for me to trust him and allow him to be salt and light through me, wherever I may be, even, or perhaps especially, where discord and strife abound. God’s grace for today is sufficient for any obstacle I may encounter.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Perfect High Priest Forever

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

July 4, 2025

The Perfect High Priest Forever

When (Jesus) comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

2 Thessalonians 1:10 

Do you have an image of how Jesus will appear when you see him? Saint John, in his Revelation gives us a hint: “And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.” (Revelation 1:13) The last sentence is very important to us. John’s first readers immediately knew John saw one who was dressed as a priest. The two-fold mission of the priest is to present people to God, and to present God to people. When we see Jesus, face to face, he will present us, holy and blameless to our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 7 teaches us that Jesus, our High Priest, is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. Unlike other high priests, Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices every day. Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins. God has made Jesus the perfect High Priest forever. Hallelujah.

My Takeaway: Jesus, the perfect High Priest, intercedes for us every day. When we see him face to face, he will be delighted to present us to his, and our, Heavenly Father. Knowing Jesus is my High Priest keeps me grounded in his grace for today. 

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Heart of Their Worship Services

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 3, 2025

The Heart of Their Worship Services

He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalm 40:3a 

My friend, and avid reader of these meditations, Bea Fosmire, died on June 13, 2025. Her funeral service a few weeks ago was entitled, “Celebrating Jesus in the Life of Bea Fosmire.” She scripted her service, and it was so nice to hear her words read by the worship leaders. More powerful for me though was the worship music which included, Because He Lives, The Spirit Song, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, and I Love to Tell the Story.

I doubt I will be as thorough in my planning as my friend Bea, but I do want several Christian hymns in my service. Why? Because it has been my experience that I am especially aware of God working in my life when I am worshipping Him, and Christian music draws me into a proper attitude for worship. When we are home, Christian music is continually playing from our iPod atop our Bose. I really enjoy this music, especially when I catch Cheryl singing along with the recording artists, but hymns in a sanctuary truly capture my heart.

In the first few centuries following Christ’s resurrection, people who became Christians were baptized and then were sustained by the worship of Christian communities. Interestingly, prayers and the Eucharist—the heart of their worship services—were not open to those who were still being taught before their baptism, and certainly not open to outsiders. Presently, many churches use their worship music to draw unbelievers to their services.

My Takeaway: I still vividly remember languishing for six months when our churches were closed during the first year of the covid pandemic. Yes, I am sustained by the worship in my Christian community. Worship helps me stay grounded in God’s grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My Anxious Thoughts

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 2, 2025

My Anxious Thoughts

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24 

Cheryl and I begin our morning prayer time with this Collect for purity which is deeply embedded in Methodist and Anglican liturgy:

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

We are essentially praying Psalm 139 quoted above. As I read the Psalm today, the phrase, anxious thoughts, caught my attention. I thought about how much time I spend waiting. I don’t always wait well. Sometimes I imagine God saying, “Raising Jesus from the dead was easy peasy compared to working patience into Alex.” My mind easily wanders to all sorts of irrelevant places.

As I know I am prone to wandering, I want to include in my stops this portion of Station Fourteen of Everyman’s Way of the Cross:

CHRIST SPEAKS: “. . . So seek me not in far-off places. I am close at hand.  Your workbench, office, kitchen, these are altars where you offer love. And I am with you there. . . “

My Takeaway: Thus, my favorite prayer, from verse 4 of Psalm 23: “Thou art with me.”

Yes Lord, you are with me, and I join my voice to the Psalmist, “This I know: God is on my side!” (Psalm 56) Staying in God’s grace for today is easier when I remember the words of these psalmists.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Godly Patience

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

July 1, 2025

Godly Patience

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”

Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

Proverbs 20:22

When I am entrusting my future confidently to God, I am inviting The Holy Spirit to increase my awareness that God is working in me, giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13) With this awareness, the Holy Spirit is developing His fruit within me, especially patience. Not patience as the world understands it, but Godly patience that is rooted in God’s character. Patience that is rooted in God’s character accepts injury without retaliating in kind. Rather, as the writer of today’s Proverb stated, Godly patience waits for the Lord to handle the matter.

Instead of retaliating for an injury, patience teaches us to practice forgiveness. Retaliating is irreverent. Forgiveness displays reverence for God. (Remember, be holy in everything you do.) Forgiveness does not affirm the actions of the one who caused the injury. Forgiveness says that God is faithful and will do what is right.

My Takeaway: Godly patience is teaching me not to be in a hurry.  Godly patience is teaching me to live at the pace given by God, to accept incompleteness and experience God’s peace as I wait on Him. Godly patience is teaching me to stay in the grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Which Voice Do You Hear?

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 30, 2025

Which Voice Do You Hear?

“But now you must be holy in everything you do, 

just as God who chose you is holy.”

1 Peter 1:15

I have previously noted the affirmation from Bishop N.T. Wright that the world’s culture is telling us a pack of lies about who God is, who we are, and who our neighbors are. But God in Christ Jesus is telling us the truth.

The world entices us with the claim we are entitled. The world tends to be loud and screams for our allegiance. This is one voice.

The Prophet Elijah had a different experience. There was a mighty windstorm, but the Lord was not in the wind. There was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. There was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. (1Kings 19) The gentle whisper got Elijah’s attention.

My Takeaway: When I am entrusting my future confidently to God, I hear His gentle whisper. When I hear His whisper, I stay in His grace for today and seek to be holy in everything I do.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Face to Face

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

June 27, 2025

Face to Face

Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.

2 Corinthians 3:12

The only model for leadership the people in Corinth knew was that of the pomp and circumstance of the Romans. Think about our President. The President never travels alone; he is surrounded by helpers, and everything around him is first class quality, the best. Consider Paul. He often traveled alone. He bought his clothes at Goodwill, did not stay in the best hotels, and worked in manual labor to provide for his needs. The people of the Corinthian church wanted their leaders to be more like the leaders in their cultural world.

Paul points out to the church that if they want to see glory, they are looking in the wrong place. He uses the example of Moses, and the people of Israel from Exodus 34 to make his point. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, the people turned from God to idolatry and made for themselves a golden calf to worship.

When Moses came down from the mountain, he was outraged, but not nearly as much as God. God insisted that there must be accountability for their sin against Him. Moses returned up the mountain, and, in prayer, interceded for the people. God revealed His mercy to Moses and sent Moses back to the people. After being in the very presence of the glory of God, Moses’ face shone like the sun. When the people saw Moses, they were afraid. Just as when you turn on a light and the roaches run for cover, so the sinfulness of the people was revealed by the glory of God in Moses’ face. Moses put a veil over his face so the people would not turn away from him.

Paul shows the church that if we try to earn our salvation, if we operate by performance-based acceptance, it is as though we are putting on a veil that prevents us from seeing the glory of God. The glory of God is Christ in us. Paul wants the church to know that living in the new way of the Holy Spirit, we have God’s glory within us, and God’s glory outshines anything the world has ever known. Why would we want the pomp and circumstance of the world when the truth of God in Christ is so much more?

My Takeaway: “Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

(2 Corinthians 3:16-18 The Message)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.