My child, I the Lord call you by name. I raised you up and seated you with Me in the heavenly places to show you the surpassing riches of My grace in kindness toward you. For you are Mine, created for good works which I chose for you. You only need to walk in them.
Ephesians 2:6-10
My child, you may plan you way but I the Lord direct your steps. As you plan for the New Year keep in mind that I already have good works which I prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them. Commit your way to Me, trust also in Me and I will do it.
Proverbs 16:9 Ephesians 2:10 Psalm 37:5
My child, no good thing do I withhold from those who walk uprightly. Walk in the power of My Holy Spirit and let My love flow through you today. You are My chosen vessel. I desire to bless through you, speak through you and love through you. I have anointed you for good works which I prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them.
Psalm 84:11 Ephesians 2:10
My child, you have been saved and called with a holy calling, not according to your own works, but according to My own purpose and grace which was granted to you in Christ Jesus from all eternity. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift from Me, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For you are My workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which I prepared beforehand so that you would walk in them.
2 Timothy 1:9 Ephesians 2: 8-10
As Christians, it’s easy to become a bit confused when setting our minds to do right. Why? Because in attempting to rid our life of sin, we often turn to good works in the hope that they will somehow offset the sin demerits we instinctively sense accumulating against us. So it’s not hard to slip somewhat effortlessly into the very thing true faith should avoid at all costs—works righteousness.
Understanding this link between good works and sin is extremely important because Satan focuses his efforts to destroy us at this very juncture. He uses it as his primary strategy to rob us of all God has to offer.
If the devil can convince us to earn our way rather than simply receiving and walking in God’s free gift of grace, he will have succeeded in handcuffing us to the extent of “defrauding us of our prize”of freedom in Christ.(Colossians 2:18) And if he can accomplish that, he just may be successful in getting us to walk away altogether from the truth of the redemption God freely offers. His ultimate goal for all believers is apostasy—the abandonment and renunciation of our faith.
Excerpted from: Free from the Power of Sin: The Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself