In his devotional classic, A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie makes note of what he calls "the true graces of Christian character." I find his list to be both compelling and convicting. In one of his prayers, Baillie expresses his desire that these graces might more and more take shape within his soul - and that these graces might more and more shape his soul.
I often wonder what my life would look like if I were to use Baillie's list as a guide.
I often wonder what my life would look like if I were to use Baillie's list as a guide.
These are the graces that he mentions:
The grace of a thankful and uncomplaining heart.
The grace to wait for God patiently and to answer his call promptly.
The grace of courage, whether in suffering or in danger.
The grace to endure hardship.
The grace of boldness in standing for what is right.
The grace of preparedness.
The grace of bodily discipline.
The grace of strict truthfulness.
The grace to treat others as I would have them treat me.
The grace of charity and the willingness to refrain from hasty judgment.
The grace of silence and the willingness to refrain from hasty speech.
The grace of forgiveness.
The grace of tenderness.
The grace of steadfastness in desiring what God wills.
We might add some other "graces" to his list, but it's a good beginning. More than that, it's a beautiful picture of Christian living.
The personal questions come quickly to mind: What would my life look like if these graces were more and more to take shape within my soul? What would my life look like if these graces were more and more to shape my soul?
If that were to happen, I would find myself living a graceful and grace-filled life.
May that be so . . .
The grace of a thankful and uncomplaining heart.
The grace to wait for God patiently and to answer his call promptly.
The grace of courage, whether in suffering or in danger.
The grace to endure hardship.
The grace of boldness in standing for what is right.
The grace of preparedness.
The grace of bodily discipline.
The grace of strict truthfulness.
The grace to treat others as I would have them treat me.
The grace of charity and the willingness to refrain from hasty judgment.
The grace of silence and the willingness to refrain from hasty speech.
The grace of forgiveness.
The grace of tenderness.
The grace of steadfastness in desiring what God wills.
We might add some other "graces" to his list, but it's a good beginning. More than that, it's a beautiful picture of Christian living.
The personal questions come quickly to mind: What would my life look like if these graces were more and more to take shape within my soul? What would my life look like if these graces were more and more to shape my soul?
If that were to happen, I would find myself living a graceful and grace-filled life.
May that be so . . .