This month we are praying that our kids would receive God’s grace. There is nothing greater we can teach them than the good news of the gospel. We are all sinners, but because of Jesus, we are forgiven! That's what grace is-not getting what we deserve.

Grace requires nothing of us--we just get it when we believe in Jesus and surrender our lives to Him. We get it because we are loved! Oh, I wish I had truly understood this as a kid! Here are a few books that have helped me understand grace in a more real way and some kids book recommendations about grace too.

#1 - The Bible

Of course, there is nothing better than diving into God's word. The whole book is one big story of God's love for us. My favorite illustration of grace in the Bible is found in Luke 15:11-32.

This is a story that Jesus tells to describe God's grace. It's a story of a son who runs away from his good father and wastes his father's money on wild and sinful living. When the son reaches the end of his rope--broke, broken-hearted, and starving, he decides to return home. He can’t even possibly comprehend the idea that he might be forgiven for what he has done, but he wonders if he might return home as a servant.

When the son is still a long way from home, with his face covered with shame, he happens to glance up long enough to see something absolutely crazy. He sees his father, the very man he had turned his back on, running wildly toward him with a huge smile across his face. This was unheard of back in the first century because it was very foolish and undignified for men to run. But this dad couldn’t care less what anyone thought of him. This dad scooped his runaway son into his arms and gave him a special place of honor right back into the family.

I bet this parable that Jesus told was his absolute favorite story to tell. It is a story about how much God loves us and the way he longs for us even when we run off and break his heart. He is a good father, ready to forgive us and wipe us clean when we turn to him. This is the good news of grace!

#2 - The Ragamuffin Gospel

I read this book the summer after I graduated from college and it completely changed my life. I struggled a lot with believing I was truly saved and really loved by God. I had spent much of my life trying to do cartwheels for the Lord to get his approval and everyone else's. I believed in God's grace, but wasn't seeing my life through the lens of that grace. I remember reading this book on a treadmill and putting it down with tears in my eye. I confessed my unbelief and just thanked God for the underserved gift of his grace.

I reread this book every 5 years or so--my copy is full of notes, highlights, and pages coming out of the seams. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book which explains grace so beautifully!

He is the only God Man has ever heard of who loves sinners. False gods—the gods of human manufacturing—despise sinners, but the Father of Jesus loves all, no matter what they do. But of course, this is almost too incredible for us to accept. Nevertheless...though no merit of our own, but by his mercy, we have been restored to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved son. This is the good news, the gospel of grace.

I also love Manning's advice for those who struggle with insecurity. We need to choose to accept God's gift of grace.

Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking, mind games, or pop psychology. It is an act of faith in the grace of God.

#3 - What’s So Amazing About Grace?

This is another impactful book that I read on my journey to accept God's grace. Philip Yancey describes grace in a very powerful way and focuses much of the book on what grace looks like in action. The book was convicting and inspiring. It motivated me to live a life of mercy and grace and to be quick to forgive. The book is easy to read as Yancey tells many compelling and inspiring stories to illustrate what grace looks like.

# 4 - The Case for Grace

This book is so good because it looks at grace from a unique angle. Just like in the other Lee Strobel books, he explores grace as a journalist who has researched the lives of people who have been transformed by grace.

#5 - You Are Special

A friend of mine told me that this is her go-to book for all baby showers and kids birthdays. I bought it for my godson's birthday, but had to read it to my kids first. I couldn't even get through the book without crying. I immediately ordered another copy for our family.

This is a kid's book written by Max Lucado, but it speaks to adults too!. This story is about a wooden person named Punchinello who learns that he is cherished and loved by Eli, the wood carver, even though the world tells him otherwise. It is such a beautiful picture of God's grace. This book reminds me that I have to run to my Maker to remember who I am-- beloved and forgiven in Christ.

#6 - Good, Good Father

This book by Chris Tomlin is about a little bear who is trying to find the perfect gift to please the King. At the end of this adorably illustrated book, the King tells him that he himself is a gift to the King. The bear finds out that the King is a good, good father who loves him just as he is. You can read this book for free on Amazon kindle.

We would love to hear your thoughts. What are your favorite books about grace?

Share with us in the comments below.