A prayer to rest in the glorious gift of God’s grace
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible reading:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9ESV).
Listen or read below:
I have always been a list maker and fueled by accomplishment. At some point, being successful and motivated became the meaning of every breath I took; I found purpose in my performance and productivity. I loved the feeling of “hustle” and having my schedule packed to the brim. I have spent years and years filling the margins of my existence with: dance class, gymnastics, cheerleading, running track, student council, marching band, marching band, concert band, art club, peer group, musicals and plays, auditions, performances, church choir practice, tutoring, youth ministry, college and career ministry, worship team rehearsals, Bible studies, prayer meetings, leadership meetings church, theater practices, event planning committees, speaking engagements…
…just to name a few.
This vicious cycle of constant hustle was all I knew for over 20 years of my life. I still struggle with the temptation to find my value in my productivity and seek my happiness when everything is “perfect.” It’s an exhausting way to live, and if you’re not careful, this mentality will creep into your spiritual life, and soon you’ll be trying to work to earn God’s favor and love.
But like Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, we know that we cannot earn our salvation because it is a gift from God:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9ESV).
And just as God is sovereign in matters of salvation, He is also sovereign in matters of sanctification. It is He who ensures that we mature in our walk with Him. The same grace that saved us is the same grace that keeps us and shapes us into the image of Christ, day by day. From the moment of your conversion, you have become God’s work in progress, and the greatest news of all is that He does not grow weary, stressed, or exhausted with you. He will complete the work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).
Your inconsistencies and failures will not change. Your disobedience, your lack of trust… none of it will change the work or thwart God’s plan in your life. God begins, God ends. We must simply lean on His strength and grace and ask for wisdom to walk in obedience. The Holy Spirit is our helper and will help you walk in the will of God. You don’t need to assemble your “faith muscles” to see this happen. You simply have to trust that God’s plan for your life will come to pass, not because there is anything good in you, but because of His goodness and faithfulness!
Are you having trouble earning God’s love? When you fail and sin, do you hide from God or do you try to fix it yourself by “trying to do better”? Beloved, you do not have to run away from God. He sees everything and knows that you will undoubtedly ruin everything. This is why he sent his Son, Jesus, to earth to live the perfect life for you; to completely fulfill the law for you. His death on the cross paid for your punishment of the curse of the law that you can never keep. Come boldly to the throne of grace today and receive the new mercies for which Christ died for you. Lean on His strength and grace today and see the work He started in you continue until His glorious return or when you meet Him face to face. Trust that He is working and yield to it.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
Please allow the truth of Your word to take root in my heart concerning the beautiful promise of the gift of Your precious grace. A gift cannot be earned or kept; Your grace is completely free and given to me in abundance. Thank you, Jesus, for your great sacrifice on the cross which allowed me to inherit eternal life.
Oh, God, may I never forget that the work of the cross is finished. Help me to rest in this accomplished work. When I sin, Holy Spirit, convince my heart to run boldly to the throne of grace and receive your forgiveness and love.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
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Photo credit: @killianpham
Related Resource: Being Real with God: Prayer Without Performance
Author Addison Bevere joins Arlene on The Happy Home podcast to talk about what honest, non-performing prayer really looks like – for you and your children. He explains why humility is a parenting superpower, how to guide children toward “second innocence,” and why your morning routine might be the most spiritually important part of your day. Join us for a truly insightful conversation about prayer and Addison’s new book, Words with God. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Happy Home podcast with Arlene Pellicane on Apple Or Spotify so you never miss an episode!