Father, we thank You for the gift of work. You gave it to us as an opportunity to create and care for things like You do. There’s no greater satisfaction than having a skill that meets a need or taking something from a mere idea to physical reality.
Work is another reminder we’re created in Your image.
But we’ve bought into another kind of work You never called us to. It’s our effort to prove we can please You—apart from You. It sounds ridiculous to say because we know without faith in Christ, it’s impossible to please You.
But we’re constantly tempted to work to be worthy.
We’re so grateful You sacrificed your Son for us and so blown away by our limited understanding of what it cost Jesus, that we want to give You a “return on your investment.”
Plus, daily we spend hours proving ourselves to people.
Why they should buy our product, why they should hire us, or why they should have anything to do with us at all? And here You are the One, True, and Living God, drawing us close! It’s too much to comprehend and for many of us, too good to be true.
So, we approach You the way we approach the world.
We roll up our sleeves and work hard to show You our worth.
Heaven forbid You think You wasted your Son’s blood on us. So, we tick the boxes on the invisible checklist of rules we labor under, headed up by the Ten Commandments.
The same Commandments no one can keep—but You.
The ones meant to bring us to the end of self-confidence and to recognize we need Jesus. The ones Jesus fulfilled to the letter and nailed to His cross, so we’d be free to walk with You in a relationship instead of under regulations.
But we keep trying to live up to them.
And we’re so tired.
The harder we try to “please” You, the more we’re aware how true it is no good thing dwells in our flesh. So Holy Spirit, help us get over ourselves and enter God’s rest by accepting the truth.
Jesus did the greatest work for us because You count us worthy.
And we’ll never understand why, but we honor You with our obedience in entering your rest. We toss our useless list aside and rest from striving because we don’t work for Your approval—we serve at Your pleasure!
It’s in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Prayer inspired by Hebrews 4:10-11.
“I have no words right now.”
We’ve all been there. Life hands you a problem you can’t even put into words, much less solve. And whether you’re a longtime believer who’s discouraged, you’re new to faith in Christ or you’re wondering what this “Jesus stuff” is all about, talking with God about what you’re facing feels so far out of reach.
What if there were a way to making talking to God easier?
You may not know what to say or you may not want to pray. But if you’re overwhelmed, speechless, and confused about what to do next, Jesus wants to help you.
Got A Minute to Pray is a collection of 60 Bible-based prayers for today’s challenges like worry, anxiety, and depression.
These prayers are both powerful and practical. They connect your needs with God’s heart by echoing what God has already promised you. Because, unlike people, God always stands behind His word.
These guided prayers reduce anxiety and restore the peace you long for.
Christian prayer is not about religion. It’s a relationship with the living God. And when you have no words for what you’re facing, Jesus has plenty. So, you got a minute to pray?
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Vanessa A. Harris 