As I look back over my life, I realize I have wasted so much energy, effort, time, and emotion,

trying to make God happy with me, thinking if I could only do this better or do this right, then I could be

worthy of this or earn that or make God smile at me. If you've ever found yourself in that place,

listen to these words of Galatians chapter 3 verses 11 to 12 it declares that the person who lives

in right relationship with God does so by embracing what God arranges for him doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you.

This verse tells us that being in right relationship with God, having God be pleased with us and happy with us and smiling at us actually has nothing

to do with our performance or what we do. In fact, the only thing that we do is to embrace what God has

already done for us.

Right now, I want you to picture a hug.

You know that person in your life

who gives you those hugs that make you full of peace

and comfort and joy. Picture right now being in that hug. It doesn't take very much effort to

wrap your arms around that person and embrace them as they are embracing you. You know,

that embrace is our response to what God has already done for us.

Right now, in your own words, take a moment and thank God for what He has already done for you.

Thank you.

So let me tell you three things that God has prearranged for you to embrace.

And after I tell them to you, just in your own words, thank God for these specific things. First of all, God has put you in right relationship with Him. When God looks at you, he sees you as flawless.

God has arranged for you to have peace.

And God has arranged for you to have joy.

He arranged all of these things through the sacrifice of Jesus.

So take a moment right now and thank Jesus for that sacrifice that enables you to have righteousness and peace and joy. Our verse tells us that the opposite of embracing what God has done for us is trying to do things for God. So we are going to take a moment and let go of our human

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