Saying Grace

Has someone asked you to say grace before a meal? Why is the word “grace” used to describe a mealtime prayer? I’ve heard God’s grace described as His unmerited favor and kindness toward us. Grace, we don’t earn or deserve. But what does it mean to “say grace”?

I think of a mealtime prayer as giving thanks and investigated the meaning of grace to find out its connection to thanksgiving. The word grace (charis) in the Greek also means gratitude, favor, gift, benefit, pleasure, and thanks. When we say grace before our meal, we are giving thanks and showing gratitude for God’s bountiful gifts.

As a child, I learned this simple prayer for mealtime:
God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.

I found this traditional prayer while researching for this blog post:
God our Father, Lord, and Savior,
Thank you for Your love and favor,
Bless this food and drink we pray,
And all who share with us today.

In God’s Word, we see Jesus giving thanks for food when He fed the 5000, during the Lord’s Supper, and in the Emmaus Road story after his resurrection.

In the story of feeding the 5000, “given thanks” is used in John 6:11, ESV and “said a blessing” is used in Mark 6:41 and Matthew 14:19.

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Matthew 14:19

The Greek word for bless (eulogeo) is to speak well of, thank or invoke a benediction upon.

We find the same descriptions used in the retelling of the Lord’s Supper. In Matthew 26:26, the ESV uses the word, "blessing.” Luke 22:19, uses “given thanks.”

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19

Thanks, used here, is the word eucharisteo in the Greek, and means to be grateful, express gratitude, and give thanks. The words “said a blessing” and “given thanks” appear to be interchangeable in the verses above due to their similar meanings.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:4-5

Although I don’t recite a traditional prayer before I eat, my family does say grace. We believe we should follow our Lord’s example by offering God thanksgiving for our food as Christ did, whether we call it saying grace, saying the blessing, or giving thanks.

Do you have a favorite mealtime prayer or one you learned as a child?

Acknowledge His Greatness

Have you praised the Lord today and acknowledged His greatness? He blesses us beyond our comprehension, and for that, He deserves our praise.

I’ve prayed for months for a miracle of reconciliation between two members of my family. The repair of their relationship didn’t look promising in the natural, but when God intervenes, all things are possible. The first step to harmony between two people I love took place this past week. I serve an awesome God!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every
spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3, NIV

Perhaps you can recall a time when God answered your prayer for a special need—a new job, a financial miracle, or the mending of a broken relationship. He’s still in the miracle working business.

Ephesians Chapter 1 tells us God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Why? Because we are followers of Christ. He chose us to be holy and without blame as we walk in His love. We belong to Him, and He has given us grace and accepted us as His children. His love and kindness for us are so great, that He bought our freedom with the blood of Christ and forgave our sins.

He’s united us with Him, and He’s working everything according to His plan. We are His own, and we know this by the gift of His Holy Spirit, who is God’s promise to us that we have eternal life. The Holy Spirit in us brings spiritual blessings through God’s gift of grace. His purpose for us is to bring Him praise and glory.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14, NIV

We are to praise and worship Him, not only for what He has done for us, but for who He is and for His excellence. One way to bring Him glory is to acknowledge His greatness as we surrender ourselves in obedience. He is holy, faithful, merciful, and offers us His love and grace. He gives to all who seek Him. Even in the bleakest of circumstances, He knows, and He cares. Tell Him what you need. The answer to your prayers may take months as mine did, but He’s listening and working.

Thank you, Father, for Your spiritual blessings. I’m grateful You hear my cries for help as I pray for matters that concern myself and others. Your love knows no boundaries. I praise You and acknowledge Your greatness, power, and authority as I surrender myself in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

---

Photo by Guillaume de Germain - Unsplash

Extend Grace

What are tangible ways to extend God’s grace to others? When I consider the Lord’s undeserved kindness toward me, I’m in awe. I cannot do anything less than share that same grace to my family, friends, and coworkers. 

When my youngest child leaves dirty dishes on the counter instead of placing them in the dishwasher, I forgive. When she squished my fresh, out-of-the-oven homemade bread as she cut a slice, I gave instructions on how to cut warm bread.

A friend, Daphne, and I get together often. A third person shared something from Daphne’s past I didn’t know. When Daphne apologized to me for her past behavior, I said, “No reason to apologize. That’s not the Daphne I know.” I offered love and kindness.

At times, I mess up and forget to extend grace. I get upset with my youngest when she leaves her personal belongings all over the sofa in the family room. And on one occasion with a coworker, instead of sharing grace, I threw up my hands and said, “Whatever. But I’m not happy about this.” (Later, I apologized. To make me happy wasn’t a part of my job description.)

Then there are times in the heat of a battle, I remember to pray and ask God for help to offer grace. When I received a promotion, Marcy accused me of climbing over everyone else to get to the top. She’d worked for the company longer, and anger consumed her. I took a position that placed me above her, and she no longer wanted to interact with me. While she criticized me, I prayed. “Lord. Help me extend grace. Keep me calm and help me respond with kindness.”

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare
(Proverbs 15:1, NLT).

I understood her frustration and didn’t argue. Instead, I sat and listened while she shared her feelings. Then I told her I was sorry and hoped to repair what had broken between us. It took two years, but when she apologized for her reaction that day, she admitted I’d done a good job in my position.

Did Marcy deserve my kindness? Bitterness filled her words. I hadn’t promoted myself. I could have argued several facts with her. But whatever I said during her heated condition would have proven nothing to her. Better for me to extend grace even though at that moment she didn’t deserve it.

Just as I don’t deserve God’s grace. But I’m so thankful He extends His love, kindness, and forgiveness to me.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others
the Good News about the wonderful grace of God
(Acts 20:24, NLT).

This Scripture describes telling others who Christ is and sharing the truth of His grace. When we walk in love, kindness, and forgiveness, we show God’s grace. People may need to see it lived out in us before they’ll hear it from our lips.

How do you extend God’s grace?

---

Photo by Leah S. Terrell

Grace-Filled Conversation

Colossians 4:6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (NIV).

My words have gotten me into trouble more than once. Have yours? Do your words ever come out in a way that they are misunderstood by others? Do you sometimes need to reevaluate not only what you said but how you said it?

Grace-filled words are pleasant, kind, and helpful. Proverbs 12:25 says kind words cheer people up. We may never know the heavy burdens others carry. Sharing a simple hello and a smile can bring joy to someone’s heart when they feel down.

Grace-filled words also bring healing and overflow with compassion and gentleness. Proverbs 15:1 says a gentle answer turns away anger. Sometimes people are ready for a fight—to argue with any willing subject. Our gentle response will either soften them toward us or send them off to find someone else to pick a fight with.

Gracious words are spoken to bring encouragement to the hearer. Our encouragement brings reassurance and hope to others. Their troubled souls find comfort and peace.

Our words have the power to impact people’s lives for Christ. The opposite is also true. Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (NIV).

I desire my words to be full of grace and build others up. To bless and not tear down. To offer hope and encouragement. I long to be a woman who shares pleasing and useful words—full of mercy—to bring healing and restoration to those in need. To point people to the Lord, to convey His love, and to grow friendships. I want to be a gracious woman whose words honor the Lord.

Psalm 19:14: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (NLT).