{#gracewins series}: Sobriety Wins

As I was driving home from the gym today, I heard Matthew West's song, "Grace Wins." It never fails to move me. I think so many of us can relate to the lyrics:


There's a war between guilt and grace 

And they're fighting for a sacred space 
But I'm living proof 
Grace wins every time
No more lying down in death's defeat 
Now I'm rising up in victory 
Singing, hallelujah
Grace wins every time

I think all of us can think of a cringe-worthy time in our past (or maybe even your present!) where you've hurt people, destroyed relationships, or turned away from God. As someone who has made terrible decisions in the past and hurt more people than I can count, there are dark moments where there is a war in my heart between debilitating guilt and overwhelming awe at God's grace. He has taken this broken, sinful person and blessed me beyond belief and I love how that song reminds me that I can rise up in victory and sing out that God's grace wins every time. 

I've felt very strongly that we need to be having more of a dialogue in the church about mental health, addiction and faith and I'm starting a series of blog posts called #gracewins over the next few weeks. I will be sharing other articles and blog posts from others who have overcome mental health and/or addiction and how God's grace has changed their lives! 

To kick this series off, here is a powerful article from Beautiful Southern Heart titled:



"Sobriety wins" matched so wonderfully with Matthew West's lyrics that I knew it was the perfect article to start this series!  Kristen's honesty and vulnerability about her struggles with addiction and her ultimate redemption moved me and offers hope for anyone who is struggling with the chains of sin or addiction!  

Romans 3:22-24 (NIV) tells us that:

"This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."


I hope that this series will inspire you and give you hope. We don't have to let guilt and shame destroy us, we are forgiven and victorious in Christ. So check out Kristen's article, and remember, grace wins every time. 

Enjoy!

Want to share your experience of how you are living proof that grace wins every time?  Email your story or blog post to blessedbyhisloveblog@gmail.com to be featured on this blog!


2 comments

  1. Wow Hilary, this brought me to tears. I too love that song and think it does fit perfectly. Ironically enough, I was in the car yesterday when Love Broke Thru came on and it was the song that carried me through as I prepared my testimony for all to see and then shared it.

    When love broke thru
    You found me in the darkness
    Wanderin' thru the desert
    I was a hopeless fool
    Now I'm hopelessly devoted
    My chains are broken
    And it all began with You
    When love broke thru

    Thank you so much for the kind words. I pray that God blesses this new series in your blog and that many lives are changed as a result of it.

    Thanks again,

    Kristen

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