When you write enough papers, you start to become familiar with the rules of grammar either through violation or adherence. In my case it is often through violation or in other words, making mistakes that helps me learn the rules of grammar. My wife tells me all the time that I should stop writing like I’m talking because it often leads me to write grammatically incorrect sentences. As you read through this, you may find this to be true but don’t let the sentence structure and grammatical errors of this devotion distract you from the message. You will find them, be sure of that!
One of the rules of grammar that I’d like to draw your attention to is the use of a Period and Comma. The definition I’d like to use for the term Punctuation/Period is: Added to the end of a statement to indicate that no further discussion is possible or desirable. The definition I’l like to use for the term Comma is: A comma indicates a small break or a soft pause—a punctuation mark that separates words, clauses, or ideas within a sentence.
Now I know what you’re thinking, I opened this devotional to connect with God, not learn about grammar. Well today, just like me, you might learn a little bit of both. I want to use the ideas of replacing a period with a comma to illustrate what it looks like to live a Christian life.
When it comes to difficult situations and circumstances and even judgements we make about ourselves or others often lead us to putting down “Periods.” We take our situations and circumstances and say “that’s that,” leaving no further discussion possible and anything beyond what’s the matter of fact is not worth entertaining. We make preconceived judgments on ourselves and others saying “I’ve seen that before” or “I can already tell”, leaving no further discussion possible and viewing yourself and others in a different light is not desirable.
What I do want to suggest to you is that you don’t put a “Period” where a “Comma” needs to be. God has the final say and with his redemptive power and all-sufficient grace, it is in his nature to erase the Periods you put down and replace them with Commas. God wants to work in partnership with you to give you hope for every situation and circumstance you are in.
What this looks like is taking a “small break or a soft pause” and asking God, “What do you say? What do you say about this situation? What do you say about my circumstances? What do you say about me? What do you say about them? When we begin to take a small break and a soft pause from our thoughts and preconceived judgements and allow God to speak, we can see His redemptive power and all-sufficient grace in ourselves and others.
Father, I thank you for your all-sufficient grace that you have made available to us. God, I pray that we, with your help, can erase the “periods” we have put down in our lives and replace them with “commas” and your truth. Help us to see ourselves and others through your eyes and to not put limitations on what you can and cannot do. Jesus, we are cleansed only by you! We love you and need you! We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen!