We have a little dog named Taylor. He's soft and cute - he looks like a little fox. One of the things that he likes to do is bring me stuff. He'll go into our room or the kitchen and come back dragging a hat or a pair of pants to us and look up like, "See what I brought you?" He's trying to earn some strokes and approval by bringing us stuff. What he doesn't know is that we love him just like he is. If anything, the stuff he brings is a minor annoyance.

Do we behave like that sometimes with God. Running around trying to do things that will gain his approval so we can be more "in" with him and maybe he'll listen to our prayers more or look our way a little extra. When all the while He simply wants us like we are, in a loving relationship through Jesus. And all the stuff we're trying to bring him is, if anything, a minor annoyance that gets in the way.

God, help me spend more effort growing in my relationship with You and less time trying to work my way into your good graces.

Brian