Devotional: Grace Upon Grace

by Debbie Norred

John 1:16 (NIV)

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

I still remember when my son Blake, who was about 12, shared about grace with me. I had been studying the Bible for several years and yet I hadn’ t really understood that we live under a new covenant. A covenant made by Jesus. He did the work on the cross for us because we were unable to work for our salvation. No matter how much we try to perfectly obey

God’s commandments we still fail.

My son had been watching a Christian TV station and had found a pastor who taught about living under grace instead of living under law.

I ordered some Bible studies about the Apostle Paul and grace and I began my journey of learning how to live under grace.

Sometimes my life feels like it runs in cycles — good days, hard days, sweet seasons, stretching seasons. And if I am honest, there are moments I wonder, Am I doing enough? Am I enough?

John gently takes our chin, lifts our face toward Jesus, and whispers,

“No sweet daughter, this story isn’t about your fullness… it’s about His.”

Oh how I thank God this is HIS story!!!

Out of HIS fullness…

Not out of my striving.

Not out of my perfection.

Not out of my performance or my spiritual “good girl” report card.

But out of His endless, overflowing, never-runs-dry fullness.

And what does He pour out?

Grace in place of grace.

Wave after wave. Layer after layer. A waterfall that never switches off.

This isn’t “one-and-done” grace. It’s like my mama-refilling-my-cup kind of grace.

It’s daily, fresh-manna grace.

It’s “I messed up, but His love didn’t flinch” grace.

So what do I want you to get from this devotional?

This…..

Jesus doesn’t just save us once — He sustains us always.

He doesn’t give leftovers — He gives fullness.

Today, if you feel weary, behind, or like you need to “do better,” rest in this truth:

He isn’t asking you to be enough.

He’s inviting you to receive from the One who already is.

You don’t run on empty anymore — you run on His overflow.

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Prayer

Jesus, thank You for grace stacked upon grace in my life.

When I feel less-than, You say “Fullness.”

When I fall short, You say “More grace.”

Help me rest, breathe, and receive today.

Fill me again from Your abundance.

Let me overflow Your grace onto others, too.

Amen.

⸻

Deep breath, friend.

You don’t have to earn what He freely pours.

Just open your hearts and hands.

Grace upon grace — that’s your portion today.

Make sure you are living under the umbrella of grace and not the umbrella of the law.

God is able to make all grace abound unto us. We just have to receive it and thank him