“Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more”. How beautiful are those words we sang yesterday in Church? If there was a phrase to describe my life it is “where sin runs deep Your grace is more”.

We’ve been going through the book of James the last few weeks at Church. James is my favorite book of the Bible. I’ve read through it many times…twice just within last 6 months.  Growing up, I always did better with the Coach that was yelling at me telling me what I did wrong. That’s the book of James.

Yesterday we focused on James 3:13-18. “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your life, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice (James 3:14-16).” That was my life. As our Preacher said, “a little bit of bitterness can wreck you and others. Don’t let others have power over you; only Jesus.”

I know I’ve talked about it before but I let bitterness come into my heart AFTER I became a Christian. It almost wrecked me. That bitterness grew into a multitude of sins. There was so much disorder in my life. I became miserable. The whole time I kept feeling that tug. I tried to drown it out with more sin. I felt like a constant weight was pulling me down. There’s a song by Ryan Long that says, “I’m not waving, I’m drowning.” That was me. My sin was deep.

BUT God’s grace found me just as I was. Grace that was and is greater than all my sins. A grace that I do not understand but a grace I am so thankful for.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:17-18).”

A little over a year ago, bitterness started creeping back in. This time, I gave it to God. The difference between this time and 12 years ago; peace. I still have the same struggles as last year but I have the Holy Spirit interceding in my life. My circumstances are still the same but I have peace.  I feel free.

“Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more. Where graces is found is where You are. Where You are, Lord I am free. Holiness is Christ in me. Lord I need You, oh I need You. Ev’ry hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness, oh God how I need You.”