When we sin we need mercy. And Jesus is on his throne of grace waiting to pour out mercy if we draw near and confess our sins to him. Mercy is primarily for past failures and sins. Grace is strength to overcome what we face now and tomorrow. Grace is “help in time of need.” I don’t know about you, but I have “times of need” countless times every day.

For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall. Psalm 18:29

If you’ve got it all together move on to the next post. If you’re a “I just decided to quit sinning and I did. What’s the big deal?” person, move on to the next success blog. But if you struggle with sin, if it’s hard for you to love some people, if you feel you’re doomed to a life of defeat, this post is for you.

Believers in Jesus Christ don’t have to live defeated lives. God intends for us to live overcoming, victorious lives, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ every day. God doesn’t intend for us to live constantly enslaved to sin and unable to defeat it. That would be a description of our old selves. But now in Christ we are new creations (2 CO 5.17).

But the secret of overcoming does not lie in ourselves. The secret to overcoming is to call upon Jesus for his grace moment by moment.

Grace has two meanings in the New Testament. First there is “saving” grace – that undeserved free gift of God’s salvation purchased and accomplished by Jesus Christ. We receive this free grace through faith. We can’t earn or deserve it.

The second meaning of grace in the New Testament is God’s mighty power to obey him. Hebrews 4:16 tells us:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When we sin we need mercy. And Jesus is on his throne of grace waiting to pour out mercy if we draw near and confess our sins to him. Mercy is primarily for past failures and sins. Grace is strength to overcome what we face now and tomorrow. Grace is “help in time of need.”

I don’t know about you, but I have “times of need” countless times every day. I need grace to serve the Lord with gladness. I need grace to rejoice always. Grace to forgive those who sin against me. Grace to love the unlovable. Heck I need grace to love the lovable. I need grace to be kind to those who are unkind to me. Grace to pray. Grace to trust God for the future. Grace to serve my family. Grace to kill sin.

Run to the throne of grace for help in time of need all day long. Don’t try to live the Christian life in your own strength. You will never conquer in your own strength. But by God’s grace you can run on a troop and scale a wall.

God has unlimited stores of grace for us.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (John 1:16)

Grace upon grace. God never runs out. Like the ocean waves – wave upon wave. Strength upon strength. Bags and bags of grace. God will never say, “Are you back again asking for more grace? What do you think I am, a grace bank? You’ve used up your portion for today.” NO! He says, “Welcome back, here’s grace for today. Grace for you to take care of your kids. Grace to love that needy brother. And when you’ve used that come back for more!”

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19)

God gives grace to the humble! To those who come to him and say, “Help! I can’t do this on my own.”

God has abundant goodness stored up for us. But we need to take refuge in him, and not try to overcome in a our own strength. That’s why James 4:6 says

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

God gives grace to the humble! To those who come to him and say, “Help! I can’t do this on my own.” Grace to those who know they’re weak. To those who rely on Jesus. So humble yourself today. Run to the throne of grace in your every time of need. God is just waiting to pour it out upon you abundantly.

Mark Altrogge has been the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA for over 25 years, and is the author of many well known worship songs such as “I Stand In Awe”, and “In The Presence”. This article first appeared on his blog and is used with permission.