God Doesn’t Owe You Anything
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" - Hebrews 11:6
Sometimes, without even realizing it, we treat our faith like a transaction. We say the prayer, do the reading, go to church, and expect God to respond with blessings. And when He doesn’t give us what we hoped for, we start to wonder if something is wrong with our faith. But faith is not a formula, and it’s definitely not a business deal.
God isn’t moved by your performance. He’s moved by your heart. He’s not sitting in heaven checking a list of what you’ve done for Him this week to decide what you deserve. His love for you is not on a reward system. It’s already been poured out fully through Jesus. You’re not trying to earn anything. You’re invited to believe and rest in what has already been done.
Faith is about trust, not trade. Trust that God is good even when life isn’t. Trust that He’s working when you don’t see results. Trust that He knows what He’s doing even when His timing feels slow. Faith says, “God, I know You can, and I believe You will, but even if You don’t, I’m not walking away.”
This kind of faith draws near to God because it wants God, not just His gifts. It leans into relationship, not reward. And it finds peace in His presence more than in His provision. When you truly grasp that God doesn’t owe you anything, it changes how you approach everything. You stop striving and start surrendering. You stop comparing and start resting.
I want to challenge you to let go of the mindset that you have to perform to be blessed. God isn’t a vending machine where your effort is the currency. He’s a Father who loves you, knows you, and invites you into something far deeper than a transaction. He invites you to trust Him, follow Him, and know Him more than you ever thought possible.
Sometimes, without even realizing it, we treat our faith like a transaction. We say the prayer, do the reading, go to church, and expect God to respond with blessings. And when He doesn’t give us what we hoped for, we start to wonder if something is wrong with our faith. But faith is not a formula, and it’s definitely not a business deal.
God isn’t moved by your performance. He’s moved by your heart. He’s not sitting in heaven checking a list of what you’ve done for Him this week to decide what you deserve. His love for you is not on a reward system. It’s already been poured out fully through Jesus. You’re not trying to earn anything. You’re invited to believe and rest in what has already been done.
Faith is about trust, not trade. Trust that God is good even when life isn’t. Trust that He’s working when you don’t see results. Trust that He knows what He’s doing even when His timing feels slow. Faith says, “God, I know You can, and I believe You will, but even if You don’t, I’m not walking away.”
This kind of faith draws near to God because it wants God, not just His gifts. It leans into relationship, not reward. And it finds peace in His presence more than in His provision. When you truly grasp that God doesn’t owe you anything, it changes how you approach everything. You stop striving and start surrendering. You stop comparing and start resting.
I want to challenge you to let go of the mindset that you have to perform to be blessed. God isn’t a vending machine where your effort is the currency. He’s a Father who loves you, knows you, and invites you into something far deeper than a transaction. He invites you to trust Him, follow Him, and know Him more than you ever thought possible.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
February
Freedom from LabelsFaithful Before the AppointmentLabels Don’t Define YouPut Off the ArmorRun Your Own RaceA Champion, Not a ContestantThe Story’s Not OverWhat Really MattersWinning the Battle WithinYou Are Positioned for a PurposeYour Worth Is SetYou Are EnoughTake Off the MaskOn Purpose, For a PurposeKnown. Loved. Enough.What Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Trying to Hide?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?What Are You Chasing?Stop Faking ItAre You Living in Fear?Stop Hiding Behind FearLive in God’s TruthOne OpportunityYour Identity Is in ChristYou’re His WorkmanshipYour Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify YouYou’re in God’s Providence
March
Stop Living the LiesGod Put You HereGod Didn’t Make a MistakeYou Belong HereTake Off the MaskBreaking Free from Imposter SyndromeWhat Are You Afraid of Losing?What Are You Still Trying to Prove?Leading with HumilityLeading with WisdomStop Holding Yourself BackWho Are You Really?The Cost of Believing the LieT.H.I.N.K.Failure Is Not FinalThere is a Dream Inside of YouIt’s Time to Dream AgainThe Journey to Your DreamBe Careful Who You Share Your Dream WithWhen the Dream Leads to a PitThey Can’t Steal God’s FavorFaithful in the Small ThingsIntegrity When No One (and Everyone) is WatchingWhose Name Are You Building?God Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Will Honor Your ObedienceGod Has Not Forgotten YouA Renewed Mind Changes EverythingA Mind Set on the SpiritChange Starts from the Inside OutThe Power of BeliefA Renewed Mind Sees Differently
6 Comments
Thanks Pastor Ed. Sometimes it looks and feels like a check list, transaction type relationship. It does help reading things like this to keep me awake and not on autopilot. Trying to grasp completely all that God is and what He is doing is a very big and overwhelming kind of thing for my mind. Keeping it simple is really all I can do a lot of times. So what’s next. Where do I start? Those kinds of thoughts keep me grounded in action. It was kind of a wake up call and honestly still can be when I realized that God isn’t held to any kind of human standard or contract. He doesn’t have to help me. He can do whatever He wants. He is the rules themselves. So if He decides that things are a certain way then there you go. That’s the way they are and confusing as hell sometimes that’s the way it always was. I mean, He is God. This sounded kind of negative on some days but it’s also double edged. It means that what shouldn’t happen can happen. It means that if He wants to that you can have your cake and eat it too. And that’s exactly what He has done for me. He made a way where there wasnt one. And I didn’t deserve it either. He just loves me and also I think He likes to show off too. Love yall
Thank you for these daily devotions. Every morning this is the first thing I do before even getting out of bed.
thanks Pastor Ed for today's devo, thanks for helping me stay on track with the Lord everyday
I know its not transactional, and faith is somewhat nebulous to me, but what fi you keep doing the 'transactional' activities that you mention but dont feel his presence. People speak about conversations with God, but I havent had one yet! I'll continue with prayer, readings etc hoping, although hope is not a strategy, that one day it will all align.
nThanks for the daily devo, at least it keeps me focussed on the 'right' things.
n
n
nPastor Ed, thank you for writing this and for your faithfulness in sharing God’s heart. I’m also grateful for every reader who needed this message today.
n
nYour sermon “Why Not You?” was the starting point of my refinement last year, and today’s devotional spoke directly into what God has been working on in me—checking my motives, guarding my heart posture, and trusting Him without expectation or transaction.
n
nI was actually planning to write you an email about the impact of that message, and then this devotional was sent to me this morning. The person who sent it even apologized, and I encouraged her that when God puts something on her heart, she should obey—even if she’s unsure how it will be received.
n
nI saw your new book on “Why Not You?”, and I just want to encourage you to keep being who you are. God is using you more than you know.
n
nThank you for staying aligned with the calling on your life.
n
Seek His face, not His hands. The woman with the issue of blood went for the hem of Jesus' garment because His hands were crowded. There is ALWAYS room at the feet of Jesus.