Grace Works: How to Recognize God at Work in Your Life | S3 E9
The Normal Christian Life
How do you actually recognize God's grace at work in your life? Christians talk constantly about grace. We know that salvation is by grace, that we need God's grace to grow in holiness, and that we cannot live the Christian life by our own strength. But what does God's grace actually **look like in everyday life**? How can we recognize when the Holy Spirit is moving us, strengthening us, convicting us, or inviting us into something? In this episode of **The Normal Christian Life Podcast**, Fr. Michael and Fr. Christopher Trummer continue their conversation from *Faith Works* by getting very practical about the experience of God's grace. Grace is not simply a pleasant spiritual feeling. Sometimes God gives us peace and consolation. Other times His grace comes as conviction, holy discomfort, a new desire, unexpected courage, clarity about what to do next, strength to endure something difficult, or encouragement through another person. And sometimes we don't experience the grace before we act. We encounter it in the act of obedience—as we step into what God is asking us to do. We discuss how to recognize God's grace, distinguish grace from our own impulses, become more attentive to the movements of the Holy Spirit, and cooperate with what God is already doing in our lives. Ultimately, learning to recognize grace helps us move from vaguely believing that “God is at work” to actually noticing His personal love, presence, guidance, and action in the concrete circumstances of our lives. If you've ever wondered, “Was that God?”, this episode is for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 What does God's grace actually look like? 03:00 Making God's grace concrete and personal 07:00 Why recognizing grace matters 11:00 Grace isn't always a good feeling 16:00 Conviction, restlessness, and holy discomfort 18:00 God works through desires and inspirations 24:00 Grace as strength, courage, and endurance 29:00 Sometimes you have to “do it scared” 32:00 Grace often comes through obedience 34:00 Clarity, light, and knowing the next step 40:00 Recognizing what God is doing in a season 43:00 “My grace is sufficient for you” 48:00 Recognizing God's peace in difficult circumstances 51:00 God's grace is strongest in His will 55:00 Grace through affirmation and encouragement 1:01:00 The ordinary ways God gives us grace 1:06:00 Sacraments, the Eucharist, and being receptive to grace 1:11:00 Extraordinary encounters and ordinary grace 1:13:00 Finding grace in the duties of everyday life 1:15:00 Experiencing God's grace through beauty 1:18:00 Passivity vs. active receptivity 1:19:00 How to respond when you recognize grace 1:20:00 Two questions for prayer and reflection 1:21:00 Closing prayer