We have made it to day 15 of 21 Days of Prayer

The majority of the letters written in the Bible, by the Apostle Paul start off with the words "grace" and "peace". For example, 2 Peter 1:2 says, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord..."; or I Corinthians 1:3, which says, "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice that each of these references is in the first few verses of the first chapter.

In the same way that Paul begins these letters with grace and peace, we should add grace and peace to our plans to accomplish goals in the New Year. Here's how you can apply them to your journey:

1. Grace to face the challenge.

That's because achieving goals in 2018 will, at times, require something that is beyond your scope of influence and greater than your strength. It's called favor. In fact, the Bible definition of grace has been described as God's "unmerited favor". That means you did not earn it. Instead, it is graciously given to you simply because God loves you. In other words, when you've done all you can and it seems like there's nothing else you can do, that's when you'll need God's grace (God's Riches At Christ's Expense) to kick in and save the day.

2. Peace to keep hope alive.

If you haven't already experienced it, I'm sure you realize that there will be moments when your plate will be so cluttered with trials and drama that there doesn't seem to be any room left for your goals.

Those are the moments when you must take a step back, calm your heart and focus your thoughts until the peace of God that passes understanding takes over (Philippians 4:7).

If you were on a flight, the Captain would call it turbulence, which is a natural flow in fluid dynamics characterized by violent or unsteady changes in the pressure of air, water or of some other fluid.

When it happens, it disrupts the peaceful, straight and orderly streamline flow of currents on its path.

Your goals are the currents that flow in a straight and orderly manner, until turbulence happens. Swirls, lateral mixing and friction between cross currents change your peaceful journey into a violent and rough ride.

That's enough to make you quit, but if you slow your velocity, isolate your goals and channel them in a specific direction long enough to reestablish order, there you will again find peace that keeps hope alive.

The elements of Grace and Peace are provided by God to help you and me achieve victory in 2018.

Let's turn it over to God in prayer!

Lord God, I ask for grace to face the challenge and peace to keep hope alive.

In those times when I've exhausted my strength, resources and skills, please add your grace to do the part that I am incapable of doing on my own.

Not only that, but I also acknowledge that I need Your supernatural ability to calm my heart and settle my soul when trials and drama land on my doorstep.

As hard as I fight to send them on their way, trials and drama keep forcing turbulence across my path. I do not want to quit nor do I desire to lose.

So Lord, I'm asking You to add your peace to my plans.

Help me to slow down, isolate these goals You have given to me and reestablish order.

Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, add your grace and peace to my life so that I experience your victory in 2018. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Inspiring Hope and Seasoning Faith, Pastor Sean