Created Anew

CREATED ANEW

a prayer to open

Here I am, Lord. Remind me who I am.

I am loved. I am known. I belong to you.

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. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We have been saved by God’s grace and created anew. Saved because God loves us. Created anew to participate with him in his restoration and reconciliation of all things. How often we grasp on to the being-saved part but forget or fail to step into our new role as partners with God. We haven’t been saved to just go to heaven one day but to fulfill a purpose on earth—a purpose that contributes to the work the Creator of all things is doing in our families, our communities, our countries. We have been saved for the sake of others, for the sake of the world. Before we believed and were saved, we already had a purpose; it just couldn’t be fulfilled. Our selfishness and sinfulness prevented us. But then something changed when the enormity and reality of grace sank in. Our eyes were opened, and new life began to emerge.

• What events, circumstances, and wounds of your past seem to follow you around and prevent you from embracing the truth that God has created you anew in Christ Jesus? As you reflect on whatever you identified, what do you sense God inviting you to do?
• If you could really embrace the truth that you have been created anew so that you can do good things God planned for you to do, how would your life be different? Where would you have increased strength and courage? To whom would you extend more patience and grace? Where would you sense less fear and anxiety?
• Take a moment to quiet yourself in God’s loving presence. Ask him to open your eyes and heart to the ways he wants you to live more fully into the truth that you have been created anew in Christ Jesus. What did God bring to mind?

Father, this gift of grace brings me to my knees. I hardly understand a love that remains so consistent and unbending as to extend this gift in light of all the ways I have ignored, resisted, rejected, and dishonored you. But your grace is broad and deep, more so than any transgression. There is no place you will not follow me to pour out your grace. There is no moment in which you will decide to abandon your pursuit of me. Remind me of the truth that you have created me anew, and send me out to do the good you have prepared for me to do. Amen.