Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT)

“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.”

Devotional: STOP!!! And Make a Decision

Have you ever felt like life is too noisy, like the decisions and voices around you are pulling you in every direction? It’s easy to get tangled in doubts and pressures, thinking, “What’s the right move? Who should I be?” Our hearts feel restless, pulled by the need to make the right choices and prove ourselves. But God’s Word gives us a powerful reminder in Ephesians: our salvation isn’t about what we’ve done; it’s about what He has done for us.

We are saved by grace. This grace isn’t a prize we win for being good enough, smart enough, or strong enough. It’s God’s pure gift, a gift that clears the noise and helps us find true peace. When we feel lost, God reminds us that we are His masterpiece. We are loved, renewed, and given purpose—not because we are perfect, but because He is.

Sometimes, we need to pause, breathe, and simply stop—stop trying to sort everything out on our own. In that quiet place, we can hear God’s voice telling us that our identity isn’t found in the opinions of others or in our past mistakes. We are created anew in Christ, made to do good things that reflect His love and grace. When we rest in that truth, we can make decisions with clarity, guided by His wisdom instead of our own fears.

God calls us to turn to Him, to lay our burdens down and take a step toward His light. If we feel weighed down by guilt, doubt, or shame, He says, “Come to Me, and I will give you rest.” His grace is greater than any sin, any past, and any confusion. Today, let’s lean into that grace, stop striving, and make the decision to trust in His love.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your unending grace. Help us remember that we are Your masterpiece, created in Your image and saved by Your love. When life feels overwhelming, let Your voice be the only one we follow. Guide us to make decisions rooted in Your truth and grace. May we find rest in You and live each day reflecting the love You’ve shown us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Writing:

I can’t fake it
I can’t shake it
I can’t make them… go away
The voices in my head screaming
Skeletons I can’t slay

It’s as it should be
It’s my fate to disown me

Am I up or am I chic
Am I in or am I meek
What’s right, what’s sleek
What’s good, what’s weak
What’s pure, who’s the freak
… it’s me

I can’t seem to sort it out
I just want to shout…

“Please God, help me…I pray
…Release me from the fray
……Of the choices that I weigh
………Of the voices leading me to stray… away”

That’s the chaos of my life
It’s the result of my strife
To not know where to turn
Toward the peace that I yearn
So what should I do
How can I be true… to myself and to you

And then your voice… the only sane voice… says to me…
“STOP!! And make a decision.”

Silence… now I can hear
Your voice alone is clear
Lifted is the fear
I can feel you… for you are near

All I have to do
Is turn toward you
And get untangled from the view
That I’m not loved by you
But that you do love me, it’s true
No matter what.
I know what I need to do…
I just need to… STOP!! And make a decision.

When I see life from your view.
I realize it wasn’t you… who flew… away.

Again I hear Your voice
Just the whisper of Your voice
Pleading with me to turn away from the mess I created
To simply turn around and walk toward Your Truth

I just need to… STOP!! And make a decision.

And so I did turn
I took one step, just one step…and then another…
I heard You say, “Give me your burden
And I will take care of you”

How do I trust after all these years of hardness
For my shame is great, my faith is weak, and I’m tired
But I heard You say, “Come to Me
And I will give you rest”

Eternal rest. THAT is what I want. THAT is what I need.

There is Hell on Earth…and it’s called separation from You.
There is Heaven on Earth…and it’s called Your Grace.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all my sin!

Copyright © 2019 by Skyler Thomas