Grace #8—Glorious Grace

God lovingly predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace … which he lavished on us with all wisdom and insight. Ephesians 1:5–8

Gracious Father, creator of the universe, at your pleasure and through your Son, the gift of life is mine. Every day I awake to revel in the fullness of your creation, the endless variety that demonstrates your holiness, your infinite, unexcelled and irreplaceable worth. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, I am amazed that you notice me, that you care for me, that you rejoice over me to do good things for me with all your heart. Though you dwell in a high and holy place, you also dwell with me to revive my dejected spirit, to reconstruct my crushed heart. And every day I awake not just to the glorious grace of creation but to the  magnificent gift of salvation. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, you powerfully demonstrated your loving wisdom, righteously overcoming the offense of my faithlessness. He was fully divine and from his fullness I have received grace on top of grace. United to him I have become your child, welcomed into fellowship and given the gift of his Spirit, who manifests himself through me for the benefit of other sons and daughters. So now I am a steward of your lavishly manifold grace so more and more people will enjoy your goodness. Once sin reigned in death, but now your glorious grace reigns in me, causing a righteousness that results in eternal life because of Christ. Amen!