Stop Trying to Earn It
You don't have to earn what's already yours.
Listen to Today's Devotional
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
There's something inside us that wants to earn it. God's approval. His affection. His presence. We treat intimacy with Him like a reward — something we unlock if we pray long enough, behave well enough, or push ourselves to be better.
Grace isn't a transaction. It's a gift. And God's presence isn't a trophy for the holy — it's a promise to the willing. You may feel like you have to clean yourself up before you come to Him, but that's not the Gospel. The Gospel is Jesus stepping into your mess before you even think to ask.
"I need to pray harder, fast longer, feel more spiritual first."
"Just show up honestly. He's moved by your presence, not your performance."
So stop striving. Take off the spiritual pressure. Let grace carry you back to Him.
Do you feel like you need to "earn" God's attention or closeness? Where do you sense yourself striving instead of resting?
Lord, I confess — I've been trying to prove myself to You. But Your love isn't something I earn, it's something I receive. Teach me to rest in grace. Remind me that I am already accepted. Amen.
Today, take 10 minutes and sit with God without doing anything "spiritual." No checklist. No performance. Just show up and be still with Him.
Let's Talk
Do you ever feel like you have to earn your closeness with God? What helps you shift from striving to resting in grace? Let's share and support one another in the comments.