GOSPEL PRAYER

 

I shared this text with my Men's Text Group this week: 

A little encouragement from God's word this morning: 

Jeremiah 31:3 NIV The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." 

Several years ago I read J.D. Greear's book "Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary." In it he gives what he calls "The Gospel Prayer" which has four parts: 

1. There is nothing I have done that could make You love me less, and nothing I could do that would make You love me more. 

2. You are all I need for everlasting joy. 

3. As You have been to me, so I will be to others. 

4. As I pray, I’ll do so according to the compassion You’ve shown at the cross and the power You demonstrated through the resurrection. 

The first part really wrecked my world in a good way. All of my life I struggled to earn God's love and keep Him happy. I could never do enough and always felt like I was failing God. But God used the Gospel book, The Gospel prayer, and the above verse in Jeremiah to fundamentally change my life. 

It finally sunk in that God's love for me wasn't based on my performance, it was based on His character and promises. He loves me with an everlasting love that doesn't fluctuate based on my behavior. When that truth sunk in, my life changed.

 I pray it sinks into your life as well. 

Check out the video version of this devotional HERE

Praying you have a great week.