Our Blessing from God

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 13, 2026

Our Blessing from God

Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

1 Corinthians 4:5 

I often refer to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. In this book, the first three habits enable us to take responsibility for our personal life. The next three habits relate to our interpersonal life and enable us to live and work well with others. The Apostle Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 4 is about Covey’s second set of three habits. It is about humility and not thinking we are better than others.

Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 4 reminded me of a story I read about Leo Tolstoy. As he was walking one day he came upon a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket for money and found that he had none. He said to the beggar, “I am sorry my brother, but I have nothing to give.” The beggar relied, “You have given me more than I ask for – you called me brother.” This illustrates the guiding principle of the life in Christ; a right understanding of ourselves and of others. We are children of God. Because we are children of God, we can trust that God will give to each of us whatever praise is due.

My Takeaway: At graduation ceremonies, it is the principal of the school, or the president of the university who hand the diplomas to the graduates. We are so precious to God, He will personally give us whatever praise is due!

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 © 2026 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.

Walking In Harmony with God

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 12, 2026

Walking In Harmony with God

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

The beauty of Psalm 19 is matched by its deep theological significance. The writer uses two different names for God in the two parts of this psalm. First, the name El is used for the God of the universe. This refers to the general revelation of God through the wonders of creation. The Apostle Paul, in the Book of Romans, agrees with the psalmist. We only need to look at the heavens to know there is a Creator God. John Muir said yes and amen to both the psalmist and Paul. He explored what is now Yosemite National Park and urged that the area be preserved as a national treasure because it was such a magnificent display of the beauty of God’s creation.

In the second portion of the psalm, the writer refers to God as the LORD because he is referring to God’s word. He is thus reflecting on the special revelation of God. This revelation is personal and full of grace.

The writer then closes his psalm of praise with an intercession for God’s help to always live in a right relationship with God. His closing prayer is one of the most profound and eloquent expressions of a desire to walk in harmony with God:

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 

My Takeaway: I want my thoughts and actions to be pleasing to God BECAUSE, in the words from my favorite prayer,

I am not my own,

I am Thine.

By creation and redemption

I am Thine.

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 © 2026 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.

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 11, 2026

Bless The Lord, O My Soul

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,

   and all that is within me,

   bless his holy name.”

Psalm 103:1 (NRSV)

Most often, I think of God as the one who blesses, or extends favor, affirmation, and approval. However, the word bless can also mean to praise, to glorify, and to call holy. The psalmist blesses God by praising, glorifying, and calling God holy because of all that God is, all that God has done and is doing in the life of the psalmist, and all that he believes God will continue to do. The psalmist embraced the entire history of God’s people as his own history. Because our “real life is hidden with Christ in God,” we are invited to embrace the many expressions of God’s mercy throughout the Bible as our own experience of God. (Colossians 3:3)

I believe the Christian ideal is that all the followers of Christ can write their own psalm of praise, with Psalm 103 as their model. The psalmist not only owned all that God had done in history, but also claimed what God was doing in the present and what he trusted God will do in the future. While it is an important devotional practice to prepare our own psalms of praise for God, authentic praise of God is not in our words, but in the way we lead our lives.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

   and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

   and to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8 (NRSV) 

My Takeaway: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” is what the Apostle Paul was doing while imprisoned in Philippi and Rome. I would do well to make this verse my daily anthem to God. 

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 © 2026 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.

Rejoice

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 10, 2026

Rejoice

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again –rejoice!

Philippians 4:4 

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians is one of his prison letters. It is important that we remember this as we read his letter. This is especially true as we read the verse quoted above, and the passage following:

“And this same God who takes care of me

will supply all your needs from

his glorious riches,

which have been given to us

in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19 

In Acts of the Apostles, chapter 16, we read about Paul and Silas’ experiences in Philippi, and that they were in jail there. In the Letter to the Philippians, Paul is writing to the church in Philippi from a prison cell. In both instances, Paul was entirely focused on God, not his situation. This is what Paul means when he writes, “Always be full of joy in the Lord.” As Christians, our joy, our happiness is IN the Lord: “. . . your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) We are seeking our real life in Christ, as the way of our life, day by day.

Paul wasn’t in denial when he and Silas were in chains in a jail in Philippi. Rather than focusing on their discomfort in the jail, Paul and Silas choose to pray and to sing hymns to God. Similarly, when Paul was in prison in Rome, he choose to pray and to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ in the church of Philippi.

My Takeaway: Hebrews 12:2 implores us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Like Paul, in times of distress, we can choose to focus on the truth that nothing can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus. And we can join our voices with the psalmist and proclaim, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

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 © 2026 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.

 

Wholly Present

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 9, 2026

Wholly Present

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

    a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,

    crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

    He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:4-5 

One of theologian Karl Barth’s most famous phrases is, “God is wholly other.” This term is understood as describing God as transcendent, unique, and fundamentally different from anything in the created world. This is true and points to the difficulty we have in comprehending God as Trinity. How can one God be three in one? This is incomprehensible, of course, without faith. The term ‘wholly other’ has influenced much of our preaching, and certainly many of our older hymns. Through the rise of contemporary praise and worship music, worshippers have been able to articulate the personal, wholly-present God envisioned in the prophesy of Isaiah above.

Isaiah wants us to grasp the reality of God who we can experience as,

You keep track of all my sorrows.

    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

    You have recorded each one in your book.

    This I know: God is on my side!

Psalm 56:8,9b

When I read Isaiah and the psalmist, I begin to grasp that Jesus fully understands the anxiety I am feeling now. (As I write this, a severe winter storm is forecast, and I have winter whether responsibilities for our HOA.) Jesus fully understands the sorrow I am experiencing for the recent deaths of friends. Jesus fully understands the sorrow I feel for strain in relationships. Jesus fully understands my frustration in my efforts to age gracefully. And Jesus fully understands my feelings when Ben Fuller’s lyrics resonate within me:

I stand in front of the mirror

But I don't like who's looking back at me

Jesus isn’t disappointed with me when I have such thoughts. Rather, He just keeps working in me to imbed these lyrics deep within my soul:

Who I am in the eyes of the Father

Who I am His love set free

Who I was I left at the altar

I am Yours Lord, I believe

It's who I am

I'm a child of the most-high God

and the most-high God's for me

Who I Am

Ben Fuller, 2022 

My Takeaway: The “wholly other” has adopted me as His child. The most-high God is wholly present in my life. He is for me!!!

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 © 2026 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.

Our Mission

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 6, 2026

Our Mission

“. . . the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:28 

Matthew gave us an excellent mission statement for Jesus. Luke was equally succinct; “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus’ first recorded words affirmed his understanding of His mission: “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

Throughout the four Gospels, Jesus is always very clear about his mission, his destiny. And He knew when He had completed His mission: “(Jesus) said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)

As I seek to make the life in Christ my way of life, as I seek to stay in God’s grace for each day, I know I must be continually aware of my mission, the work God has given me to accomplish. And I expect I will know when my mission is complete. By complete, I mean fulfilled to God’s specifications. I don’t want my mission to stop because God removes his anointing from me because of my inattention, or for wandering off on my own, chasing along some rabbit trail. I know there is a reward waiting for me, a crown of glory. But my focus is on my mission, not my crown. The church in Ephesus lost their way and Jesus called them to repent lest he remove his anointing from them. (See Revelation 2)

My Takeaway: Covey’s Seven Habits is an excellent guide to help us stay focused as we take responsibility for our life and our mission. We are to be proactive as we keep asking, seeking and knocking. We are always to stay focused on our mission, our assignment from God. And first things first; we don’t want to let the seemingly urgent things usurp the important thing; our mission from God.

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 © 2026 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.

Why Don’t We Ask?

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today 

February 5, 2026

Why Don’t We Ask?

The Lord is close to all who call on him,

    yes, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18 

When Noah built an arc, lives were saved. When Moses raised his staff, the sea parted. When the soldiers marched, the walls of Jericho fell. When a boy shared his lunch, thousands were fed. When a woman touched the hem of his garment, Jesus stopped. The woman, we know her as Veronica, was healed. When Thomas stayed with his fellow disciples, Jesus opened his eyes so he could proclaim, “My Lord and my God.” When Peter returned to his Lord, he was made whole and received a great breakfast prepared by Jesus.

Jesus’ imperative is,

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Are you struggling with your life as a Christian? Don’t forsake the gathering with the saints of God. Keep going to church, to Bible studies, to accountability groups. God will find you there.

Whatever our point of need may be today, God promises to “supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) The apostle Paul made this affirmation after affirming he had received gifts from the church in Philippi. Do you see the connection? We first act on our faith, we ask, seek and knock and Jesus says we will receive, find, and the door will open.

My Takeaway: We don’t have because we don’t ask God for it. (James 4:2-3) Why don’t we ask? 

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 © 2026 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.