The Grace Narrative

Today I'm reflecting on how gifts of grace are showing up in my life recently in the everday. I hope it helps you to do the same.

You tuned into a good one today, my friends! Because a great spiritual mentor of mine is here to do this culminating episode of our summer series with me and I have been SO looking forward to it! Mike Edinger is here and I couldn't be more pleased with this deep and meaningful well-timed conversation. We talk about a lived analogy of restoration, God's heart for restoring and how shame can keep us from living fully restored. It is the perfect ending to Restoration Summer!

I want to start off with a question for you about today's topic: have you felt weak and tired in your spirit at any time over the past months? I think probably most of us have. That's why a discussion about restoration and renewal needs to include some time spent talking about how to regain strength. What I love about the scriptures today is that we are going to be reading from the Old Testament and the New Testament and how they flow together as they remind us of what God has made available to us to renew our strength.

As we are learning in this series, there can be different means by which restoration comes to us. Sometimes it's through the fulfillment of promises. Sometimes it's through rest which, at its core, is about trust. In this episode we are going to talk about the restoration of our souls brought about by confession, which is just simply being honest with God about where we've fallen short and stand in need of His mercy.

During this episode we focus on the well-known and well-loved Psalm 23 in the second installment of Restoration Summer. One of the great miracles of scripture is how the same truths we've read time and time again can bring fresh revelation, meaning and significance through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is my prayer that this miracle happens for you as you embrace God's way in the everyday.

It's time for a new series: Restoration Summer! I've never done anything quite like this format, but here's the plan. For the next few weeks, Lord willing, I'm going to focus mostly on scriptures the Holy Spirit is using to restore my soul, really my whole person- to be honest. I may have some thoughts to express or maybe just the scripture reading stands alone. I may mention a song or liturgy that goes along with the passage. I just sense that this is going to be unlike series I've done in the past and I'm excited about that! I'm trusting like it says in Isaiah 55:11 that His word will not return void but will accomplish His purpose. Today we dive in with a beautiful and prophetic word from Isaiah 61 that is as restorative today as it was when it was first written. Welcome to Restoration Summer 2026!

In this episode, we are going to address one of the common mottos of our culture, "You can have it all". It sounds good, but is directly at odds with the economy of God's kingdom. As always, Jesus teaches us a better way and we're going to talk about that as well. It's the way that brings abundant life where we are able to embrace God's way in the everyday.

One reason I love doing updates is that I can see how what the Holy Spirit is teaching me currently builds on and ties in with the lessons he has taught me in the past. The previous series on The Grace Narrative was about resting and the unhurried life. Resting spiritually in Christ's redemptive work is a day by day decision. What a freedom to rest in His redemption. I pray that this Easter is a very special reminder of what a new creation in Christ you are now that you have been redeemed. Glory to God!

We are just one week away from Easter 2026 and it seems fitting that today we remember something very important: The reason we are able to enjoy the salvation of an abundant life and enter into eternal life as heirs is because the man on the middle cross said we could. Jesus Christ loves us and went to that cross to prove it in the most life-changing way possible.

Episode Notes:

Alistair Begg Sermon Clip Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-mGoIqBvTM

"The Good and Beautiful You" by James Bryan Smith https://amzn.to/4sDPO1l

Just like taking an onramp gets you to the main road on the way to your destination for vacation, we're going to take a listen to some earlier podcasts in this series to direct us spiritually toward our destination that is celebrating Easter. So I've selected a few discussions from the past to update and reair that speak to themes of restoration, joy, relationship and redemption to inspire you as you reflect on and praise Christ for who He is and how what He has done has changed you forever!