Seeking the Life in Christ

Friday, March 20, 2026

Unfinished Business

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 20, 2026

Unfinished Business

Jesus said,

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34a

Why did Jesus extend forgiveness to those who were murdering him? The murderers neither asked for, nor apparently wanted his forgiveness; in the very next verse we learn the soldiers started gambling for his garments. I have long assumed Jesus’ prayer for forgiveness was an indication that he was so much a better person than those gathered at his feet. Unquestionably that is true, but there was so much more at work in Jesus’ prayer.

Jesus was practicing what he preached; he was praying for his enemies. He also modeled for us the importance of tending to all the unfinished business in our lives. When we have been hurt by others, our offer of forgiveness is liberating. Our forgiveness of others enables us to move on with our lives. So also, when we have sinned against others, when we seek forgiveness, we are free to move on with our lives. However, our unwillingness to forgive, or to seek forgiveness, keeps us bound in chains to our past.

My Takeaway: Jesus prayed for those who nailed him to the cross. That prayer set him free to offer another prayer a few hours later, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46a NRSV).

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.

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.

Freedom

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 23, 2026

Freedom

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:36

“For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1a NRSV). Jesus has set us free from sin and free for life as his followers. By his death, resurrection and ascension, he has set us free from sin and death: “And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death” (Romans 8:2). This freedom from sin and death makes possible our relationship with God. We get to be in an everlasting right relationship with our Abba Father because Jesus has set us free from the sin that had separated us from God.

When Jesus walked on earth, He was truly free. His freedom was rooted in His belief that He indeed was the beloved child of God. He knew in the very depths of His being that He belonged to God before He was born, that he was sent into the world to inaugurate God’s New Creation, and that when His mission was completed, He would return to God His Father. This abiding belief in His core identity set Him free to fulfill God’s purpose.

We too, as the followers of Jesus, are asked by God to accept our core identity as His beloved children with whom He is delighted and upon whom His favor rests. In our acceptance of God’s love, we are set free to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives without regard to popular acclaim, or the lack thereof.

My Takeaway: I have found the following prayer helpful in ordering my life as one who has been set free:

O Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth;

I worship you. With all angels and saints I adore you.

I acknowledge you to be my Creator and my God.

I render to you the reverence of my being and my life.

I am not my own. I am yours.

By creation and redemption I am yours.

I will devote myself to your service this day and forever.

O Lord, grant grace for this I pray

in the name of my Savior, Christ Jesus.

Amen

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.)

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Breathing the Holy Spirit

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 19, 2026

Breathing the Holy Spirit

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Romans 8:14

Jesus promised his followers that the Holy Spirit would come to them. For the followers of Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit within us is as intimate as the very air we breathe. We are not usually aware of our own breathing, unless something is wrong. In the same manner, the Holy Spirit is the active breath of God within us. It is the Holy Spirit who prays for us when we don’t know how, or when to pray. We may not be aware of His prayers for us, but God is faithful and fulfills His promises to us, regardless of whether we realize His presence.

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to produce Godly fruit within us; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We may not be aware of the Holy Spirit’s work for us and within us; even so, the Holy Spirit labors to form Christ within us.

There are disciplines you can practice that help you become aware of your own breathing. These disciplines help you learn to control your breathing and learn to breathe deeply. The spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation and devotion to God’s Word will help you become aware of the Holy Spirit within you.

My Takeaway: Practice these disciplines, and you will come to the place where you can sing, with great passion and conviction, “This is the air I breathe, His holy presence living in me.” (Breathe, ©1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing, Words and Music by Marie Barnett)

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.)

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

I Know the One in Whom I Trust

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 18, 2026

I Know the One in Whom I Trust

“Because I am righteous, I will see you.

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.”

Psalm 17:15

Many commentators believe Jesus is revealed in Psalm 17, because only Jesus can pray with such confidence,

“You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong . . . My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you . . . Because I am righteous, I will see you” (Psalm 17:3,5,15).

I don’t disagree.

However, I also read Psalm 17 as an expression of David’s child-like faith: strong faith, Biblical faith, but also child-like faith. I suspect David wrote this psalm while still in his youth. Later in his life David is much more acutely aware of his own sin, as in Psalm 32 when he seeks forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba.

David’s faith is the defining characteristic of the Book of Psalms. David has an absolute trust in God. David is not in denial, he knows he has adversaries and that his adversaries are enemies of God. However, David fully expects that God will vindicate him. He trusts God to be both judge and the executor of divine judgment. This is the same trust the Apostle Paul proclaimed when he wrote, “for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Timothy 1:12).

There are two thoughts I take with me from Psalm 17. First, God most definitely has expectations for my witness for Christ and my participation as a co-laborer with Christ building for the Kingdom of God. However, the battle is not mine; the battle is the Lord’s. Secondly, because of the immeasurable love of Christ, I am now and forever more the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, I can rejoice with the psalmist in saying:

“Because I am righteous, I will see you.

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.”

Psalm 17:15

My Takeaway: As I seek to stay in God’s grace for today, and every day, my thoughts are anchored in this eternal truth:

“for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

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.)

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Fear of Dying

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 17, 2026

Fear of Dying

In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Luke 22:44 NRSV

In the last few months friends have died, and others have received cancer diagnoses. As I progress through the aging process, I am trusting in Jesus’ promise: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places . . . And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3 NRSV). For the Christian, it is not death we fear, our fear is dying. While some may go quietly into the night, and still others die very quickly, for many others, their dying includes illness, pain, dependency and loneliness.

While serving as a pastor, I was present with many, many people as they died. I learned that there is no easy, 1-2-3 formula that makes dying less fearful. I also learned that we tend to die the way we live. Our faith, our life in Christ, makes the journey with us. Those who did not seek the comfort of Christ, and of scripture during their lives, seldom look for Christ in their final days. For those taking the road less traveled, and who are seeking to make the life in Christ their way of life, I can offer an assurance for the certain time when we face our own dying.

Always, always, always remember you are not alone! As Saint Luke so eloquently observed, Jesus was overwrought at the prospect of his own dying. Remember, Jesus faced the same trials we do. (Hebrews 4:15) Also, remember that as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Father sent angels to comfort him in his time of trial. (Luke 22:43) Those same angels also comforted Jesus during his wilderness experience. (Matthew 2:19-21) Because you are an heir of God, a joint heir with Jesus, you can rightfully expect the Father’s angels to come and comfort you in your hour of need.

My Takeaway: And remember always the profound truth of Psalm 23:4 (KJV, Emphasis mine.)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil:

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort 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.)

Monday, March 16, 2026

Running on Empty

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

March 16, 2026

Running on Empty

Christ Jesus . . . emptied himself, taking the form of a slave . . . he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Our cultural norms tell us that running on empty is not a good place to be. Stephen Covey includes renewal as the seventh habit in his The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and rightly so. Taking time for renewal is very appropriate in our secular life, as well as our spiritual life. However, as a spiritual disciple, running on empty is something we seek.

Throughout Jesus’ public ministry, he made it very clear that he was intent on not doing his own will, but rather, his Father’s will. The climax of Jesus emptying himself of his own self-interest came in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, “I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42). Jesus affirmed his prayer on the cross when he called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 NRSV). Not long after that, Jesus announced he had completely emptied himself: “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

When Jesus was completely emptied of self, God lifted him into the resurrection and,

elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

We too want to be emptied of self. As we seek the life in Christ as our way of life, we are emptying ourselves so that God may fill us with His glorious presence. Scripture teaches us that, “Because of the joy awaiting him, Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). As we seek to empty ourselves of our own self-will, we too keep our eyes on our prize. One day our Abba Father will lift us into the resurrection, and we will be given a new name. (Revelation 2:17)

My Takeaway: Running on empty is a good thing when there is less of self and more of Jesus!

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.)

Friday, March 13, 2026

Taking, Lifting & Drinking the Cup

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

March 13, 2026

Taking, Lifting & Drinking the Cup

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Matthew 26:27-28

In many churches the members of the congregation do not have an opportunity to personally handle the cup, or communion chalice. Over the last five years in my Anglican experience, I have been blessed to place my hands on the Chalice as I drink from it. Recently, as I assisted in my grandson’s wedding in a Catholic Church, I was able to take the chalice in my hands and lift it as I fulfilled Jesus’ command to take and drink from the cup of his New Covenant.

In my participation in the Common Cup of Holy Communion, I am learning to think of it as a metaphor for my life. The Chalice containing the wine is symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus which gave birth to my new life in Christ, and it is also symbolic of my life. All my regrets and sorrows as well as all my celebrations and joy of life are within the Chalice. As I take the cup, I am taking ownership of all my life.

As I let go of the Chalice, I always say, “Thanks Be to God” for my new life in Christ, as well as for my mortal life. I am what I am by the grace of God who is forever more at work within me. (1 Corinthians 15:10, Philippians 2:13) At the Altar of Holy Communion, I affirm my Abba Father does not have buyer’s remorse for adopting me.

My Takeaway: Our participation in Holy Communion is our way of fully appropriating and internalizing both our new life in Christ as well as our mortal life with all its joys and sorrows. As we take time to allow God to speak to us through each step in this process of taking, and drinking, and eating, we position ourselves before the transformative hand of our Abba Father. Through His loving touch, we become the fully authentic human being He created in His very own image.

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.)

Friday, March 20, 2026

Unfinished Business

Freedom

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Breathing the Holy Spirit

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

I Know the One in Whom I Trust

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Fear of Dying

Monday, March 16, 2026

Running on Empty

Friday, March 13, 2026

Taking, Lifting & Drinking the Cup

Seeking the Life in Christ

About Me

Blog Archive

Followers

First Think - Then Pray

Books I Am Reading

Recent Books I Have Enjoyed