Dec 24th 23 Posted by Natalie Nichols

God’s Real Love: The Ultimate Christmas Gift

Merry Christmas from Shades of Grace! May you have a blessed holiday season filled with God’s gift of real Love… “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:10, NLT If you’re like me, you enjoy watching romantic Christmas movies this time of year.  The couple who falls in love may seem to... read more

Jan 21st 23 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fresh Inspiration: Fasting Week Three From the Archives

Fresh inspiration and encouragement await you in the archives. Week three of the fasting archives contains over sixty-five articles. I’ve listed and grouped them by day for your convenience. But note that except for a few on Day Twenty-One, the articles apply to any day of your fast. They are not intended to be used only on the fasting day that corresponds with the day they were posted. I have also... read more

Jan 14th 23 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fresh Inspiration: Fasting Week Two From the Archives

Fresh inspiration and encouragement are waiting for you in the archives. Week two of the fasting archives contains over fifty articles. I’ve listed them below and grouped them by day for your convenience, but they apply to any day of your fast. They are not intended to be used only on the corresponding day they were posted. I have also included over fifty articles and devotions on prayer! The content in... read more

Jan 9th 23 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Fresh Inspiration: Fasting Week One From the Archives

Many of us are currently engaged in a season of fasting and prayer, either on our own or with our churches. Although Shades of Grace is not posting new, Pursuit 21 content each day as we have in the past, there are hundreds of articles on the site that can encourage us in prayer during these days of fasting. Week one of the fasting archives contains over 65 articles. I’ve listed them below and grouped... read more

Jan 1st 23 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Happy New Year: A Deep Ruts Blessing

Psalm 65:11 is my favorite Bible verse for this time of year. You may have noticed that I’ve included it in my New Year’s prayers before. I recently looked it up on Bible Gateway’s list of all the English translations. I love doing this with almost every verse that is meaningful. Seeing all the different wordings side-by-side like this helps me meditate on a verse and understand the... read more

Nov 25th 22 Posted by Natalie Nichols

A New View: 7 Facts That Transform Seasons of Prolonged Trials and Loss

Does it seem like God keeps finding new degrees of horrible for your life? Perhaps you’re in shock this Thanksgiving season by how awful your circumstances are… after years of unbelievably devastating events. You’re stumbling from one traumatic event to the next in total disbelief…  What you have endured year after year is simply incomprehensible. The people around you appear to be happily... read more

May 6th 20 Posted by Natalie Nichols

National Day of Prayer Observance

Although the Coronavirus may keep us apart, it cannot keep us from PRAYER! If ever we needed a day of prayer for the nation, it’s now. “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust swarms to eat up all of your crops, or if I send an epidemic among you, then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will... read more

Mar 21st 20 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Comfort and Encouragement in the Coronavirus Pandemic

During the Coronavirus Pandemic, I have been sharing articles, scriptures, and quotes on social media, as well as links to other ministries’ videos — content that I feel holds encouragement, truth, hope, and comfort for us as we walk through this pandemic season. I will also be posting new content here on the website in the days to come, but in case you missed what has been shared on social... read more

Mar 15th 20 Posted by Natalie Nichols

A Prayer Guide: National Day of Prayer for the Coronavirus Pandemic

In light of the Coronavirus global pandemic, President Trump has declared today a National Day of Prayer. He stated in a tweet, “It is my great honor to declare Sunday, March 15th as a National Day of Prayer. We are a country that, throughout our history, has looked to God for protection and strength in times like these….” As he said, we are a country that as a people have looked to God... read more

Feb 23rd 20 Posted by Natalie Nichols

Praying After You Have Received Your Promise

What personal promises has God given you? Perhaps He has given you promises for your children, your marriage, your health, your career, your ministry—and He has asked you to respond in faith and believe Him to do what He promised. Do you believe that in such an instance, prayer is out of line? Do you feel that you would be acting in unbelief if you now prayed about it? Or do you think that your only... read more