For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Romans 5:17
This is one of my favourite verses in the whole of the bible because it lays out the most simple truth about the nature of our relationship with God. Today if you grasp what it says it will start a process of transformation in your life.
Most Christians live with the thought that what they can expect from God is in direct proportion to how they live for God. If, by our own estimation, we are "doing well" then God is pleased and we can expect to be blessed. It is about what we do.
The opposite is true. The whole direction of our new covenant relationship is from God towards us. The opposite from how most of us live. Notice here it says we receive abundant grace - i.e. it is a gift, and then it says explicitly that our righteousness (our state which is totally acceptable to God) is a gift as well. God is always moving towards us despite our performance.
Do yourself a favour today and refuse to believe any longer the lie that God's love is conditional on you. The way that you will see a turn around in your day & week is when you stop trying to earn what God has already given you.
Today believe, receive & rest in the gift of God.