Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Think

"The great exchange: our guilt for his grace, our mistakes for his mercy, our plan for his purpose." What if you purchased something only to discover it was broken or damaged? What would you do? You would head back to the store and exchange it for something better! That is what happens when we choose to accept Jesus as our Savior and follow him throughout our lives. We exchange our guilt for his grace, our mistakes for his mercy, our shame for his acceptance. In Galatians 2, when the author, Paul, says he will live by faith, he is referring to another exchange: our own will and desires for God's perfect plan and purpose. Though we aren't physically crucified with Christ, "to live by faith" means to continually put our ego aside and follow God's direction instead. He is able to do more than we could possibly ask or imagine, if we trust him. Are you living by faith – believing God's way is better and following him? Remember, God is the one who created you and knows you better than you know yourself.

Act

Take a moment to think about the ways your daily life reflects your faith in Jesus. Are you obeying him? Are there areas where you need to make some changes, and exchange your will for God's? Maybe it's with how you spend your time, or where you invest your resources. Start making those changes today!  

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son, Jesus! Help me to daily turn away from my self-centeredness, and turn toward your plan for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen!