“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:10) “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” (Psalm 138:8)
Heavenly Father, it’s such a gift to live without the pressure of earning, deserving, and score-keeping. What a relief to have the burden of our failures and shame lifted from our “heart-shoulders.” The Gospel has dismantled and “de-fanged” any doubts of what you think about us. We live in your 100% favor because we’re 100% in Christ.
Your currency is grace, and you stay on a generous spending spree on our behalf. Jesus’ saving-work for us is finished, and the Spirit’s transforming-work in us continues. This doesn’t make us passive, but actively dependent on the God who raises the dead, every good thing we have in Christ, and the things you use to make us more like Jesus.
Because we can affirm with King David, you will “fulfill your purpose for me,” and celebrate with Paul, “you are at work in us according to your good pleasure,” we want the rest of our days to be marked by…
Faith expressing itself in love.
Hope expressing itself in mission.
Grace expressing itself in kindness.
Peace expressing itself in less fear and worry.
Humility expressing itself in quick repentance and joy.
We are SO loved, SO yours, and SO Grateful. SO Very Amen.