of faith and grace in our lives and how each brings change: Faith changes things.

God has given us His faith to use to bring change to the n atural situations we face. He works together with us to bring His power and infl uence into those external circumstances that need to turn around in accordance w ith His will. How does faith come? Romans 10:17 answers that important question. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (NKJV). Our faith is built by spending time meditating on God s Word. As we grow in faith, we become equipped to move the mountains that stand in our way. On the other hand, God s grace changes people. By His grace, we become what He has said in His Word we are to be. We could be facing an extremely challenging problem right now; feeling unable to cope with the pressure. The grace you are walking in doesn t seem to be enough. Y our weakness and inability seem to contain you and threaten your faith. Yet you know that God has provided you with all the supernatural power and ability you n eed to handle any situation. Whenever you find yourself in this kind of situation, you need to follow the Apo stle Peter s instructions found in Second Peter 3:18 to grow in grace (KJV). The writer of Hebrews tells us how we grow in grace: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in t ime of need (Hebrews 5:14 KJV). Grace comes as we spend time in His presence befo re the throne of grace. We are strengthened with His supernatural power as we li nger there. Just as the smell of cigarettes clings to our clothing when we walk through a smoke-filled room, in the same way, we take on a fragrance when we are in the presence of God. It is the aroma of the grace of God on our lives that d raws people toward Him. We have been invited to come boldly before the throne of grace to obtain mercy a nd find the grace we need to help us through any situation. The more time we spe nd in the presence of God, the more we will grow in the grace of God.