For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. Ephesian 2:8 (AMPC)
Did you know that you already have all the grace you’ll ever need to make your relationships great?
It would be exhausting to think that it’s entirely up to you. I understand that we need to put effort in, but we can’t forget that we have God’s grace in us, powering us on and helping us to make great decisions and create thriving relationships.
Ephesians 2:8 says that this grace—God’s power, ability and provision—is free and that you access it through faith. You have this grace not because you’ve been good; it’s a gift from God because you believe in Christ.
Verse 9 (AMPC) makes it even more clear. This grace is “not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself].”
In fact, all of us have God to thank for every success we’ve ever had. After all, even if we’ve been successful at something because of our own hard work or skills, God made us! We have Him to thank for giving us talents, opportunities and the ability to learn.
The truth is that you’re God’s masterpiece. You’re a work of art, equipped with skills, abilities, potential and power. Keep growing in wisdom and knowledge, but also rest in the fact that you have Holy Spirit in you, which means you can access the power you need to make your relationships great!