⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Dear God, the verse of the day from Bible Gateway was verse 10, but I felt like I needed to at least pull in verses 8 and 9 for context. I like the first part of verse 9: Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…” But I thought I was performing for you! (Sarcasm implied)

Isn’t it interesting that we can get so focused on works that we will lose simply worshipping you and loving others. I’m not here writing this prayer this morning to please you. I’m here doing it because I know I need this time with you. I need to connect with the God of the universe who loves me. I get to sit here with the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent after his ascension and commune with the Triune God. I’m not learning tricks so I can impress you. I’m not like a little kid who says, “Daddy, look at me do this!” You’re already looking at me. I’m a little kid who is just crawling up in your lap to be with you. I’ll do stuff today. I’ll even do some good stuff. I hope I’m going to do stuff that will please you. But I won’t be doing it to earn your love. I’ll be doing it because you teach me to do it. Jesus teaches me to do it. The Holy Spirit teaches me to do it.

Father, help me to share this joy of your presence with others. Verse 8: you saved me by your grace. Grace was it. And that grace is an amazing feeling. It’s freedom. Help me to exemplify it through my life so that others might know you and experience it as well. And help me to know how to address the injustices around me. I feel completely impotent when I look at the pain happening in our community, state, country, and world. Give me not just the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, but also the courage to change the things I can change. Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom to know the difference.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen