Psalm 5:12, Psalm 84:11, Hebrews 11

Glyn Barrett considers God's favour

Glyn Barrett

How many of us can say that and truly mean it? It sounds like the sort of thing a Christian should say, but do we actually and fundamentally believe it?

Psalm 5:12 says, "Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield."

The Word of God tells us here that the favour of God is for every believer, and it is inescapable.

It is a sure thing, a certainty, that God blesses us. To be blessed is to be fortunate, to be envied. In short, God blesses and favours all of us. Therefore, we all have extraordinary favour!

When we explore the story of Naomi in the book of Ruth, we meet her, her husband and family setting out from Bethlehem ("the place of bread") to a new land, because there was famine at home.

And yet in the new land, sorrow comes to Naomi because, even though they have food in plenty, both her husband and two sons die. And it comes to pass that back in Bethlehem, God provides an abundant harvest.

Sometimes when things don't seem to be going well, we seek out good things using common sense: "the grass is greener over there - it must be where God wants me to go." And yet God's ways are higher than our ways; with Him, there can even be favour in the famine!

And so Naomi sets off back to Bethlehem. Sometimes, all we need to do is position ourselves for favour.

The favour of God isn't something we can ever work to achieve or earn. Rather, it is something to receive and find.

We have to ask ourselves, "how am I positioning myself to receive the favour of God?" Because God wants to bestow His favour and blessing on us (Psalm 84:11).

And it's not about am I doing the right things, but am I taking the steps God wants me to take? It is the God-steps that lead us into the God-destiny, and when we're on the God-path, we receive His favour.

And last of all, Naomi receives a grandchild. Her family had fallen apart. She had no heir. And yet God, in His favour, blessed Naomi with a grandson, the redemption of her family. And here is the ridiculous part about favour. Not only did God provide another family member for Naomi, she received a son in place of the ones that she had lost, and she could physically care for him and nurse him, even as if he were her own, even though she was well past the years in which she could nurse a child.

God wants to favour all of us, including you.

His favour is for all who believe in Him. It is inescapable.

God has set us up to succeed. If we will only position ourselves to receive, He will bestow it upon us. And we will see opportunities line up before us: dream jobs, new business ventures, relationships restored, a new car, a new house, maybe even a new child!

God wants to bless you. He wants you to see the favour He has for you.

That's right - "I have extraordinary favour!"

Declare it over yourself this week, and watch what happens. Hebrews 11 shows us that we frame our worlds with our mouths.

Declare favour over your week and let the good times roll!!