Daily Devotional: Becoming Blessable
- David A. Case
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
Life Saying:
The Holy Spirit is freely available to me—if I make room for Him.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”— James 4:7–8a
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”— Ephesians 2:8–9
The grace lifestyle is often misunderstood. Many hear “not by works” and assume effort has no place in the Christian life. That’s not what Scripture teaches. The truth is, it takes tremendous effort to live in a posture of receiving. It takes strength to still the noise, to fight distractions, and to make room for God. The passive heart won’t go there.
Receiving may sound like a quiet word, but in reality, it’s a fierce kind of focus. I must lay aside every other priority to set my heart on God and keep it there. It’s not a striving to prove myself worthy. It’s a deep awareness that apart from God’s presence and power, I will fail. It’s the difference between a works-based effort to earn blessing and a grace-based pursuit that makes me blessable.
James makes this clear. “Faith without works is dead.” Real faith shows up in action. Abraham’s faith became visible when he raised the knife to offer Isaac. Rahab’s faith was seen when she hid the spies. Their works weren’t attempts to earn God’s favor—they were evidence of it.
God does not consistently bless those who do not seek Him. He is merciful to all, reaching out with love and invitation. But blessing rests on those who respond, who draw near, who walk in obedience. Grace is available, but it flows to those who posture themselves to receive it.
The danger is subtle: I can do good things instinctively, according to my own strength or gifting, and still miss the grace of God. Even the teacher must surrender his thoughts. The servant must submit his drive. Until my actions are fueled by grace, not just by talent or training, they fall short of God’s glory.
Deuteronomy warns of a mindset that says, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.” That mindset is deadly. It assumes blessing can be claimed without submission. It says God will honor effort without intimacy. He won’t.
Becoming blessable means seeking first the Kingdom, not just the benefits of the Kingdom. It means doing the work of seeking—not to earn grace, but to make space for it. God honors that. He meets us there. His grace empowers us to do what we could never do alone. That’s the blessing.
Reflection Question
In what area of your life are you working hard but not necessarily making space to receive from God?
Prayer
Father, I want to be blessable. I don’t want to run ahead of You or try to earn what only You can give. Teach me to seek You first. Help me make room for You in my thoughts, choices, and daily rhythms. Let my efforts be fueled by grace, not pride. I submit to You. I draw near to You. Lead me in Your way. Amen.
Today’s Step of Obedience
Name one area of your life where you’ve been operating on instinct or autopilot. Pause today and ask God to speak into that area. Listen. Then obey.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
Comments