Grace is the act of being kind to someone. When they deserve punishment, instead of giving them what they deserve, we pardon their iniquity and forgive them instead.
So often we can be so gracious to others when they mess up, but we fail to be gracious to ourselves.
We punish ourselves, telling ourselves that what we did wasn’t right, and it becomes a stumbling block in our lives to move forward, past our failure.
I am very guilty of this myself. It’s like I put myself in a self-prescribed time out when I mess up, but with everyone else, I am just so quick to forgive and let it go.
I tell myself that the standard is higher for me, I want to be perfect as my Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) (and I don’t expect others to be perfect), but it oftentimes just leads to a failure to move forward. I get stuck in my own way. Pretty soon I’m derailed and not as useful to God.
It takes a very pre-meditated and concise plan to remove all those blocks and forgive myself so that I can get back on God’s path.
Maybe you’re the same way. Maybe it’s so hard for you to forgive yourself. If you are stuck in that pattern of unforgiveness for yourself, these verses will help.
- Psalm 103:11-12
- 1 John 1:9
- Ephesians 1:7
- Matthew 26:28
Next, go through and read more about grace in the Bible with these 30 Bible verses about grace, and be sure to apply it to yourself as well!
30 Bible Verses About Grace
1) James 4:6
‘But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”‘
2) Romans 5:20-21
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3) Hebrews 4:16
“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.”
4) Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
5) Acts 15:10–11
“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
6) 1 Corinthians 15:10
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
7) 2 Peter 1:2
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
8) Romans 11:6
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
9) 2 Corinthians 12:9
‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’
10) Romans 6:14
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
11) John 1:16–17
“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
12) Titus 2:11–13
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
13) 2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
14) 2 Peter 3:18
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
15) 2 Timothy 4:22
“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”
16) 2 Corinthians 8:7
“But as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you – see that you excel in this act of grace also.”
17) Acts 20:24
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
18) 1 Peter 5:5
‘Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”‘
19) Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance[a] upon you and give you peace.”
20) Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”
21) Acts 20:32
“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
22) Psalm 103:8
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
23) 2 Timothy 1:9
“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
24) 2 Corinthians 4:15
“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
25) 1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
26) John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
27) Isaiah 30:18
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
28) Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
29) Ephesians 1:2
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
30) 1 Peter 5:10
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
