Grace

Too many Christians live their lives trying to earn the grace of God; trying to earn that which by its very nature cannot be earned. Let us not count ourselves among them! Let us pray earnestly that the Lord would open our eyes to the reality of His grace, that our love for Him may abound. And in so abounding, that we in turn would act out in love toward the world, not to gain what has already been offered, but to bring glory to what already is. And if we ask in faith for our eyes to be thus opened, the Lord will open them, for He delights to pour out His blessings upon us.

            Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
            Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
            Matthew 7:7-11

            You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
            James 4:2b-3