God’s Favor

 

Psalms 119:58-60: I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. 59. I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60. I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.

 

The Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words defines "favor" as favor, goodwill, acceptance, will, desire or pleasure.

 

Another definition is a kind or friendly attitude or act, an indulgence privilege or friendly regard or approval shown to one by a superior; partiality. It can also be defined as the condition of being held in regard or approval or support.

 

Because we belong to God through Christ Jesus, we now have received God’s favor.

God is partial to us, because we are His children. He shows us His goodwill and friendly regard.

 

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

 

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Because God loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us, I now have His favor. This Psalm is fulfilled because we no longer have to entreat God for His favor. No, we already have it through Christ! We must walk in that favor. Amen! And yes, because of Jesus, God is always merciful and good to us! We have to walk in faith and receive that favor or blessing.

 

God loves you and looks with favor on you! He has a friendly attitude toward you; He performs kind acts toward you and indulges you with His blessings! Hallelujah!

When you are born again, you are not only a son and heir but you are also God’s friend.

 

John 15: 13-15: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15. "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

 

Jesus called us His friends. He makes known to us the promises of God.

I think back to my childhood and remember the words to an old hymn.

"I go to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear calling in my ear, the voice of Jesus calling.

And He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

The joy you share as you tarry with Jesus, spend time with God is unspeakable. It is hard to really define. It is a joy complete and does not depend on "feeling up". It is there because it is in you spirit and not in you mind.

 

Look at verse 59 of our Scripture: I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. If you really want to experience the peace and joy of God’s favor then you have to evaluate your life. Look at it closely and prune out the areas that are not pleasing to God. You have to think about your ways and turn you feet to God’s Word. He does not do it for you. If you let Him, He will show you areas to be pruned, but it is you decision, to do the pruning.

 

This is a decision that I made almost 6 years ago. I looked at my life, not an evil life, but a worldly life. A life full of the world’s idea of peace and happiness and realized that was not enough. It was empty and full of need. I chose to turn my feet back to God and His ways. It is a conscious decision on our part and must be made. We cannot "sit on the fence" and try to live in two worlds. It will not work.

 

In verse 60 the psalmist goes on to say he made haste and did not delay to be obedient.

Once you reach the point in your life to chance. Don’t wait, just do it! It opens up an entire new world to you full of God’s favor and blessing. When you reach this point, when you decide to hurry after God, God will meet you and fill your heart.

 

This need to change in not only for the unsaved. It is also for the believer. Many times in our walk, we wander off the path. We forget were we are going and what God’s plan for us is. We allow the enemy to overcome us with debt, sickness, worry and fear. We have to make a decision to remain victorious in these situations just as we made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as Lord of our life.

 

Psalms 119:61-62: The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

 

"The cords of the wicked have bound me." I think this is an interesting statement. So many of us, as Christians allow the enemy to bind us or tie us down with our problems.

We let our health, debt, unemployment or family problems overwhelm us to the point we are so tangled up in the mess, we cannot even see God, much less keep our eyes on Him.

This was my situation recently. I became so overwhelmed by my problems, that I lost my focus. I forget that I personally know the one person with all the answers, Jesus Christ!

 

Psalms 119: 37-38: 37. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. 38. Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.

 

We have to turn our eyes away from worthless things. Not to belittle your situation, but in essence, all those problems are worthless things to God. Why? Because he sent the answer! He sent Jesus Christ and fulfilled verse 38. He established his word to His servant.

Jesus died and rose again and we are now victorious through Him.

As a born again believer, a follower of Jesus Christ you already have the answer.

You are the healed, not the sick waiting to be healed!

 

Matthew 8:16-17: 16. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

17. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.''

 

God has already met you needs you have no wants.

 

Matthew 6:31-33: "Therefore do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32. "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Philippians 4:19: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

Malachi 3:10-11: Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now in this,'' says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11. "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,'' says the Lord of hosts;

 

You have the peace of God, you do not worry or have fear.

1 Peter 5:7: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

I know these are verses that have been quoted a lot in the past. However, I feel we need to have them brought to our attention again. It is the simple things of God that we need to dwell on. Just because you have heard something over and over again, does not mean it is worthless. I urge you today to reread these verses, write them down fresh for your reference and stand on these promises. God will keep his promise to you!

Several months ago as I studied and meditated on this very subject a "verse or psalm" came into my spirit and I wrote it down. I would like to share it with you here and hope it blesses you as it did me.

 

The Lord is my strength and salvation,

In Him I have my being.

He sent me the Comforter to guide my ways

and He recalls God’s Words and Ways to me.

When I am weary, tired and forlorn, I lean on God’s strength and mercy.

When heaviness and fatigue invade my soul

It is God through the Holy Spirit that keeps me strong.

I think on my ways and trust in Him, the joy of my soul.

And then I know without a doubt that God is in control. Amen.

 

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?

If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, "…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (Jn.6:37),

So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).

I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, "…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." (Ro.10:9,10).

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, "… with the heart one believes to righteousness…" and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),

And I am saved! Thank You, Lord!

I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God!

Glory to God!!!! Amen.