March 20: Practicing Grace in Relationships

            We acknowledge that sometimes it is hardest to show grace to those closest to us. May God grant us the strength to practice grace in our relationships. May we accept forgiveness when our loved ones offer it and allow them space to grow when they make mistakes. We pray our loved ones show us the same compassion. Even when it is difficult, may God give us the maturity to avoid grudges and accept both our friends’ imperfections and our own. May Jesus and the grace he showed to others while on Earth serve as a model for our own relationships today.

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March 2: Silencing our Inner Voice of Doubt

            We ask for God’s help in the seemingly impossible task of silencing our inner voice of doubt. We ask God to help free us from our internal spirals of criticism and self-deprecation. May God heal our insecurities as well as our past mistakes and regrets. May we believe in our worth as creations of God. We pray for the confidence we need to pursue our goals and take risks. Without pride or vanity, may we recognize our own strengths and accomplishments while giving thanks for all the good God has added to our lives.

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February 28: Finding Grace in Forgiving Oneself

            While we often contemplate forgiving others, we rarely consider forgiving ourselves. But we recognize that we are God’s tools, which may mean that we create the forgiveness God intends for us. Practicing grace toward ourselves releases us from our insecurities. May God give us the strength to forgive ourselves for our mistakes and our regrets. May we choose Jesus’ mission as our example and continue our search for grace by finding ways to forgive ourselves.

Photo by author, taken in Malacca, Malaysia

February 23: Finding Grace in Forgiving Others

             May we find grace in learning to forgive others. In accepting others’ flaws, we acknowledge our own humanity and allow ourselves space to make mistakes. We release ourselves from grudges and begin to heal our wounds. We strengthen our faith by emulating Jesus’ characteristics of compassion and forgiveness. May God encourage others to accept the forgiveness we offer and may we find grace in the act of forgiving itself.

Photo by author, taken at St. Paul's Church in Malacca, Malaysia

September 20: Discovery and Acceptance of Limitations

             Examination of our shortcomings often swings between two extremes: between despair over our faults and complete denial of them. We ask God for the maturity to honestly identify our limitations. We understand that as creatures we are both imperfect and incomplete, in need of both God and the rest of humanity. May God give us the peace we need to accept our shortcomings. May God guide us in improving the aspects of ourselves that we can improve and in learning to live with what we cannot change. We take comfort in the knowledge that while we have limitations, God also gives us the grace we need to accept them.

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