“Have you ever done something significant, but someone else stole your praise? You served behind the scenes, voiced an important idea, or crafted something wonderful—but somebody else swept in and demanded full credit?

It’s not exactly the same (because we’re not nearly as awesome as Him), but we must be cautious not to steal credit from God.

The apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison, said:

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On a foundational level, we wouldn’t even be here without our Creator and Sustainer.

We wouldn’t exist without the universe and body in which we live—a universe and body that we did not make ourselves. We wouldn’t be able to breathe without the oxygen in our lungs or the oxygen that hovers right above our planet. We wouldn’t think or see or hear or talk without the minds, eyes, ears, and mouths He’s given us.

But on top of creating us, God is the only One who can save us.

The story of God and the story of us is that He pursued us when we didn’t deserve it—He saved us when we were lost and hopeless. We are not capable of saving ourselves. We are not capable of being the solution. We are not capable of being our own saviors…

…and that’s good news! The best news, actually.

God saved us by His grace, and that’s a gift. Salvation isn’t something that can be earned, but a mercy that is given.

We can’t think we’re better than anyone else. We don’t get to decide who’s deserving of His love and who isn’t—because none of us are.

Yet, in His great mercy, God has chosen to reveal Himself to us at this particular time in history—because He loves us. He initiated salvation when we couldn’t save ourselves. And He has invited us to join Him in the greatest story on earth.

Are you in? Will you accept and share this great gift?”

I read this as I sit wrapped in blankets, sipping coffee and thinking about the weekend.

My husband is home. A rare and precious gift and we were doing things together- running errands, catching up, and grabbing food and going from one thing to another.

I realize now that I took our time for granted instead of savoring it and it makes me think of what this devotional says,too.

“We wouldn’t think or see or hear or talk without the minds, eyes, ears and mouths He’s given us.”

Oh, how much I take this all for granted- to say whatever comes to mind, to look at what I choose, to listen to whatever strikes my fancy and to let my mind run wild.

My mind and my mouth ran a little wild yesterday. I was exhausted from running around and not eating well and skipping my workouts which always sets me up to be less than my best.

I broke down in tears.

I felt left out and unheard and overwhelmed.

But it was entirely my own fault.

See, God has given me this body and I know it well. After all, I’ve lived in it my whole life.

I know what I need to thrive, I know my love languages, I know my “oxygen” and when I try to let it slide, or wing it, or downplay it- I wind up a hot mess, a holy hot mess.

I wish I could push a ‘rewind’ button and do things differently but I can’t and that’s another thing I’m so grateful for.

God forgives me over and over again and loves me no matter what I say, no matter what I do, no matter how I care for this body, mind, eyes, and ears He’s given me.

But, He also doesn’t just leave me to my own devices- trying to pull myself up with my own bootstraps.

He gives me His word, like a balm for my soul, and He gives me Greg, my Godly husband and best friend who gets me even when I’m driving him crazy and who knows when I need rest and chocolate and to just be held.

It’s being held by the unchanging truth that God created us all and sent His Son to pay the ultimatum price for us that blows my mind, calms my heart and makes my eyes fill with tears and my ears listen to His whispers,” It’s gonna be okay, Jeanna’, I got you.”

I don’t need a rewind button, I’ve got Jesus.

He’s got me.

Even when I’m a hot mess. Especially when I’m a hot mess.

He has you, too, and all you gotta do is take a deep breath of the air He’s given you and call out His name- He’s right there, waiting on you to make that first move.

““For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s that simple. It really is.
And I’m so glad that it doesn’t depend on me and whether I’ve had enough sleep, plenty of protein, good food and all those things that make me a better woman.

It’s all about Jesus.
Thank God.