"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, 'Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?'" 2 Samuel 7:18 (NLT)

David was no self-made man, and he knew it! But, he was a blessed man! David experienced great favor from the Lord, and I believe he did so because he realized he had nothing to do with all the good things he had experienced. David knew every good gift and blessing in his life was not a result of his worthiness, but of the abounding grace of God that followed him everywhere he went!

We are often taught to be self-reliant, but God wants us to depend on Him instead! I believe we too often miss out on God's abounding grace because we're trying to justify ourselves or earn His goodness. David understood there was nothing he could do to earn the grace of God; all he could do was humbly receive it. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, "Free grace can go into the gutter, and bring up a jewel!' Grace that we receive from God is always FREE! If we try to receive it any other way we will miss it! God's grace can do the most extraordinary things in our lives, what a shame it is when we miss it by trying to "earn it". Don't be a self- made man or woman; decide today to be a God-made man or woman! Rely on the Lord to bring you victory and success! Trust in His ability and wisdom, not your own! If we will only rely on the Lord, we like David, will experience the fullness of His abounding grace in our lives!

"When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners." Romans 4:4-5 (NLT)