Walking In The Favour of God

Volume 9 Issue 4

Remember this photo at the close.

Greeting in His Name,

What a year so far! Or maybe I should say the last two months have proven to be rather challenging. Many have had the unruly head of COVID 19 to make it's visit into their lives, homes and jobs. Some to a greater degree of pain than others but all the same we have in some measure been affected by this virus. In today's blog I just wanted to share an old article I wrote entitled Walking In The Favour Of God. I really hope, after reading, you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.

shalom and love

heidi

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Some years ago I was asked to do a five minute teaching on walking in the favour of God, along side four other women who had some type of topic centered around “walking in ….”. I received this assignment kind of short notice but my mind kicked in, my ears opened, and my spirit moved. I needed to know about favour. Now of course most of the clichés and familiar songs at the time came to mind; I’m Blessed and Highly Favored, Favor Ain’t Fair, God Favors Me and so forth. I had already been wrestling with the statement ‘favor ain’t fair’ because I really couldn’t see how this favour that comes from God ain’t fair. Well any way God had to give me a Word for His people that night and He began to show me what it takes to walk in the favour of God. Now God plainly told me as I began to study, “Heidi, favour is not what man thinks. What man often thinks is favour is actually grace- there is a difference.” So I sat there and allowed God to pour His truth into me. And from that I obtained three steps toward favour.

As a toddler takes his first steps. You see the excitement in the toddler’s eye and because his eyes are fixed on a goal of where he is trying to go he reaches with his hands as if it were right there until he makes it or falls. Let’s reach with our minds focused on God until we truly walk in His favour. Favour is not easily obtained as some believe; for the scripture says, A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. Proverbs 12:2 KJV. Neither is favour tossed at you like a toy. There are some steps we have to take, so--let's walk in the favour of God.

STEP #1 Walk in Humility! (Esther 2:17 KJV)

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. The story of Esther's life is beautiful. In the natural she was said to be beautiful. And if you delve into her story you will see just how beautiful she was inside as well. She was an orphan raised by a cousin. And because she followed her cousins leadership and guidance she was brought to a place of prominence. This story opened with a PARTY! The king with all his associates and leaders got beyond tipsy and the king decided to show off his present queen, Vashti. Well, she rejected the kings offer, but in reality what woman would want to be apart of that - a room full of sloppy drunk men looking at you, Humph-NOT! But because of her disobedience she lost her queen-ship and now the king's entourage is scurrying through the region pulling virgins to take the place of Queen Vashti. Guess who made the pick? That’s right, Esther. She, along with many others, went through the largest and longest beauty spa treatment I ever heard of, which was really a time of purification. Just imagine, ladies. Twelve months, FREE spa treatment! That would truly be favour and a blessing. But any way, to fast forward, after the king had relations with Esther he decided that she would be queen. What brought her here was God’s favour. It wasn’t so much her beauty but her humility that the king was attracted too. Esther humbly followed the leadership of her cousin, she humbly followed the leadership of the king’s chamberlain and she went humbly into the arms of the king. It was this humility that she displayed that brought her into everyone's favour. God is speaking here. We have to have a walk of humility to receive God’s favour. You may say that God’s favour is undeserving and it is, but it is not just given to everyone. It is said to obtain something means we have to make an effort. To be humble takes work on our part. Now God can humble us, but we really don’t want that! I have learned that it is best if I humble myself under His mighty hand, as Esther did, that He may exalt me. God exalted Esther to this place of prominence because she decided to walk in humility and be obedient. God would not require any less.

STEP #2 Set a Standard! (Daniel 1:8-9 KJV)

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. So far Esther had favour with man. In the book of Esther there is no mention of God but that does not mean that He wasn't there; He was unbeknownst. But with Daniel, God brought him into favour. Daniel's story opens with him being transported to Babylon as a slave. Upon reaching there he and others where chosen to serve in the kings palace. Being chosen, they had to go through some strenuous training; both mind and body. One of the things provided by the king was food. Daniel, knowing pagan worship, knew that the portion of meat was probably defiled and he didn’t want to sin against God so he made a ten day proposal to the kings lead eunuch. The eunuch was afraid to accept the offer but because of the favour God had placed on Daniel, the eunuch agreed. End of story, the agreement worked out on behalf of Daniel and his friends. I know that God’s favour was showered on Daniel because God knew that Daniel would set a standard. Alexander Hamilton, our first United States Secretary of Treasury, once said, "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." If you expect to see a blowout move of God in your life expect to come up to a higher level of excellence. God expects no less.

STEP #3 Be Mature! (Luke 2:52 KJV)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Esther had favour with man, Daniel was given favour with man by God, our Savior Jesus was given favour with God and man. This particular account of Jesus’ young life is the only to be found. Jesus was in the synagogue talking with the intellects of that day. His parents leaving the city of Jerusalem thought he was with others, but found later that they had actually left him. When they found him they questioned his behavior and his response was, “I was about my Fathers business”. Listen to this twelve year old! Most parents in my day would have, as the saying goes, snatched a knot in him! Not to be offensive, but I believe if you spare the rod you spoil the child. Now Mary kept these things in her heart because she knew her child would face punishment for us all. It is said that when they made it home Christ obeyed his parents and matured in wisdom, stature and favour and from this scripture we see that Christ became a well rounded person. He matured mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. To follow in the mature steps of Christ would be to love everyone, pray without ceasing, and obey the Father at all times. If Christ did it, God requires and expects no less from us.

Closing: G.R.O.O.M. Gather Round Our Omnipotent Master

If you “walk in” something it is said that it is a easily won victory. To walk in God’s Favour will be easy because you will have prepared yourself; mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. My understanding of most peoples’ thinking when it comes to God’s favour is that they can just have it like that, and you can if you are living a life that is pleasing to Him. To think you are walking in God’s favour and your life is full of junk and confusion -- sin is opposite the lifestyle that would reflect our Father. Walking in favour is like walking in your Fathers footsteps because they are ordered by Him. Christ is a groom looking for an adorned bride to shower his blessings upon. Rethink favour and ask yourself a valuable question, “Am I really walking in the favour of God?”

LIFE QUOTE

"Humility is the gateway into the grace and the favor of God. - Harold Warner

Let Us Laugh!

Adam's Shorts

Six-year-old Ned's mother was looking through an old family Bible when an oak leaf fell out. Ned said, "I guess that must be Adam's shorts."

Hope to see you Next Month!

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