Celebrate God’s Grace

Monica Munguia-Monroy
5 minutes ago
4 min read

Celebrate God’s Grace

I love to celebrate! We celebrate all things most of the time: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries; and if there aren't any holidays, we make them up–it's Friday, the last day of school, the first day of work, shoe day–we use our imagination to celebrate. But we often forget to celebrate what God has given us–His grace. The Cambridge Dictionary defines celebrate as "taking part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important. To express admiration and approval for something or someone." So, how can we celebrate His grace?

First, we must publicize His greatness. Let everyone around us know the greatness of God. And for them to know it, we must speak it. The Bible tells us in Psalm 145:6-7: “They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness” (ESV). Isaiah tells us: “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love” (Isaiah 63:7).

We also need to “worship in spirit and truth” (John 14:24) with all that we are and have. Let us celebrate by singing: “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting” (Psalm 147:1). Let us celebrate by shouting: “Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Psalm 47:1. Let us celebrate by dancing: “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!” (Psalm 149:3). Let us celebrate by speaking of and to Him: “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day” (Psalm 71:8). Let us celebrate by praising and blessing Him at all times and in all circumstances: “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).

To celebrate God's grace we must rejoice in Him. We must remember that He is everything to us: “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you’” (Psalm 16:2). The Old Testament also tells us in Deuteronomy 10:21: “He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.” Let us sing: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:1-2).

It is of no use to us to just enjoy God’s grace, we should celebrate it by living a life that reflects the joy and grace of God. May everyone around us be able to say: "She celebrates the grace of God. She lives a grateful life." Paul David Tripp said: "When you face how deep your need of God's love is, you will celebrate grace. When you celebrate grace, you will come to love the King of grace more deeply. When you love the King of grace more deeply, you will get excited about the work of his kingdom of grace. When you get excited about the work of the kingdom of grace, zeal for this kingdom will color the way you respond to the situations and relationships you face. And as you live with eyes that see the work of God's kingdom of grace and a heart that loves it, you will give grace to those around you.” In so doing, you will minister more faithfully, enthusiastically, and productively than you ever have before in the place where God has put you.

In February 2011, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, located in a place where my body and brain thought, I was pregnant. The doctor told me, "With that tumor and the medicine you're going to take, you won't be able to have babies unless by God’s grace if the Lord wants it.” Four months later, I was pregnant (I was the most surprised). On May 9, 2012, Xaris, my firstborn, was born. Some people ask me about her name; Xaris means "grace of God." I celebrate God’s grace every day when I call, talk, and mention my daughter. And by God’s grace, He gave my husband and me a pair of twin girls and another daughter. Today I celebrate God's grace for my life and for my family by serving Him, being faithful to Him, and trying to live a life pleasing Him. How are you going to celebrate God's grace in your life?

Monica Munguia-Monroy is the wife of Administrative Bishop Imer Jehu Monroy. They have been married for 14 years, and have four daughters: Xaris, Jael, Sharon, and Gracie. Imer and Monica are both pastor’s kids and have been in the Church of God all their lives. They have served as Youth and Discipleship Directors and now as bishops in the Northwestern Hispanic Region (Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada). She loves to cook, watch movies, travel, sing, and talk with friends. One of her favorite Bible verses is: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

Reference

Cambridge Dictionary. (2024, February 7). celebrate. @CambridgeWords. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/celebrate

Paul David Tripp. PaulTripp.com