One definition of "grace" that has always been used is unmerited favor. And grace is unmerited favor. Grace is not something you earn by works. In other words, you didn't do something in order to receive the grace of God.

Another definition of "grace" is closely related to the first definition: the favor of God. Favor in general gives you access into places where others do not have access.

For example, I have favor with my mama and daddy. I can walk into their house anytime. I can walk into my mama's kitchen, open the refrigerator, and get whatever I want.

Why? Because I have favor with them. But if my mama and daddy came home and found you in their kitchen with your head in their refrigerator, you might meet my father's twelve-gauge shotgun!

Faith, the Accelerator of Grace
Faith and grace operate together; faith is the accelerator of grace. Faith accelerates the grace of God in your life. If you need more grace, simply exercise your faith.

Faith is the catalyst to the manifestation of the grace of God in your life. And we all have received faith from God and His Word (Rom. 10:17; 12:3; Eph. 2:8)!

What else is the grace of God?

Grace as Help From God
Did you know that we can be strong in grace? The Word of God says that we can.

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus.
(2 Tim. 2:1)

One translation says, "Be strong in the favor that is in Christ Jesus." Another translation says, "Be strong in the help, which comes from union with Christ Jesus."

In other words, "grace" is help from God. And the Word of God tells us that we have access into this grace by faith. We have access by faith into help from God. Our help comes from God and His grace.

Thank God that we have help, but we also have a part to play. In the Book of Romans, we see what our part is.

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
(Rom. 5:21, 6:1,2)

Paul says that you are legally dead to sin. But this is a decision that you make. Yes, you can decide that you're not going to walk in sin.

Many people want someone to pray for them that they will not fall into sin. But the Bible says that God has given you grace or help to be able to resist sin yourself.

The Power of Decision
The decision to sin or not to sin is purely up to you. If you've sinned, you sinned because you wanted to. And if you resisted temptation and didn't sin, you didn't sin because you didn't want to.

Do you know why some people pass the ice cream store by? They decide against it. Do you know why other people stop in every day?

They didn't decide against it. Then people feel condemned when someone else is slimmer than them. But it's an issue of decision.

Source: Faith Access by Bishop Keith A. Butler
Excerpt permission granted by Word Of Faith Publishing