Take me beneath the umbrella of Your Word, Lord my god. For I am suffering under a hailstorm of deceit that impales my faith with doubt and despair. Let the fruit which my life produces testify to the truth that I belong to You, Jesus. Only You can comfort me with the bread of life and the fruit of the vine. If only I let myself be satisfied with all of You, resisting the cultural pressure to need more. Your promise is my portion, Lord. Let me cease my grumbling because whatever allowance You grant me is enough for me to find contentment. Thank You for this acceptance that transforms and makes new this treacherous heart of mine. Spread the sweet ointment of Your Word over my soul wounds until, in mended wholeness, I am one with Your Spirit. You have promised good to Your servant, Lord, despite my undeserving state of existence. Thank You for being enough and inviting me into Your satisfying rest. Only You can empower me to cease striving and know that You are my God. Under the Word of truth in Romans 5:8 and the authority of Christ Jesus, I bow in humble prayer.

Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented Himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to Him.
Romans 5:8, MSG