Living by the Spirit and Resurrection Power—The God of All Grace
Adapted and inspired by Day by Day by Grace, this series reflects on God's boundless grace and His work in our lives, guiding us to live in humble dependence on Him.
Have you ever felt like you’re trying to run on an empty tank? I have. For years, I thought the Christian life was about mustering up my own strength to live for God—only to find myself frustrated and exhausted. But then I discovered something life-changing: God doesn’t ask us to live by our strength. He invites us to live by His.
This truth comes alive when we reflect on what it means to relate rightly to "the God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10). As we grow in knowing Him, His grace flows into and through our lives in powerful ways. Two of these ways are living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power.
The Spirit Who Gives Life
Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63). Those words have stuck with me because they expose a truth we all wrestle with: our flesh—our self-reliant, independent striving—doesn’t work. It never will. Yet, how often do we fall back into that mode, thinking, If I just try harder, I’ll finally get it right?
But Jesus offers us something better. Through the Holy Spirit, God fills our lives with His life. This is the essence of the new covenant of grace: “God…made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Holy Spirit isn’t just a helper on the sidelines. He’s not merely your co-pilot. He’s the very source of life and strength for every moment.
I remember a season in my life when striving left me spiritually drained. It wasn’t until I started depending on the Holy Spirit—trusting Him to guide my thoughts, empower my choices, and lead my steps—that I began to experience the life Jesus promised. Grace came alive as I let go of my own efforts and embraced His sufficiency.
The Power of Resurrection
Another way we experience God’s grace is through resurrection power. Paul’s prayer in Philippians 3:10 captures this beautifully: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” This isn’t just about life after death; it’s about the power to live victoriously today.
Think about it: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you and me. Paul prayed that we would understand this: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know…what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:18-20).
I used to believe that I needed to generate my own strength to navigate life’s challenges. But God’s resurrection power isn’t something we earn or achieve. It’s received when we humbly admit our weakness and rely on His strength. That’s when His grace becomes real.
A Life of Humble Dependence
Living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power are not things we achieve—they are realities we experience when we walk in humility and faith. God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), and faith is the access point to this grace (Romans 5:2). Both require us to let go of self-reliance and embrace His provision.
When I think about living this way, it reminds me of resting in the arms of a Father who is more than capable. There’s no striving, no frantic effort—just trust. And as I trust, His Spirit leads, His power works, and His grace overflows. This is the abundant life Jesus offers us.
A Prayer of Surrender
Lord, thank You for being the God of all grace. We yield to You, acknowledging that our flesh profits nothing and that life comes only through Your Spirit. Thank You for making resurrection power available to us. We trust You to work in us and through us today, knowing that You are sufficient for all we face. May Your grace flow freely in our lives, bringing glory to Your name. Amen.
Reflection: Letting Go of Self-Reliance
As you think about your own life, where are you striving in your own strength? What would it look like to let go and depend on God’s Spirit and power instead, for all of yo? The God of all grace invites you to stop striving and start resting in Him. Will you take Him up on that invitation today?