Friday, June 30, 2017

Dear Heavenly … zzz

“Hon … Hon, wake up.  Your dinner is here.”  Hubby said as he placed my plate on the computer table.  Laying his hand on my shoulder he began to pray over the meal. 

Lifting my head from the comfy gel pad that I use for my wrists, I sat up and stared at the food. Within seconds I became one of those bobble heads trying to stay awake.   (Sound familiar?  I know, we're been this route before right?)

Thinking all this was funny my husband sat down on the couch watching me wobble back and forth in the chair.  This time I put my elbow on the pad and used my hand to prop up my head.  It was so comfortable I decided to use both elbows as a crutch and nestled my head in the palms of my hands. 

With a smile on my face I fell fast asleep never hearing a word of the prayer. 

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Dear Heavenly …zzz 

Have you ever had a difficult time staying awake through prayer? How many times have you barely gotten past “Dear Heavenly Father” before you’re already in dreamland? 

I remember talking to one of the deacons in our church about falling asleep when I prayed at night.  He was quite encouraging in helping me to realize that this isn’t something unique to me.  

Although he didn’t recommend I make a practice of it, he said, “At least you went to sleep talking to the Lord.”  That was kind of cool for a teenager to hear from someone I deemed as “religious”.  

The problem though didn’t stop with me dozing off during my own prayers.  Oh no, I was no respecter of persons when I fell asleep during prayer. 

Shall We Pray 

I loved our pastor, as a teen he was the only person who preached that I could really make sense out of what he said.  He wasn’t boring and was down to earth in his messages. There was one big problem though, well, not for me I thought.   

For most of the congregation, the compassionate Shepherd in our church touched the hearts of the sheep he led, but was long winded when it came to his prayers.  I remember some of the elders discussing the matter over the years.  However for me, I welcomed the times when he would lead us into the throne room of God. 

You see whether we were standing or seated, pastoral prayer meant a time for me to snooze.  Hearing the words, “shall we pray” was music to my ears and a legitimate reason to close my eyes.  

Falling asleep wasn’t a sin to me because I saw lots of people doing it including the deacons, and the pastor never said a word about it. There probably wasn’t a single time when my Dad didn’t fall asleep in church (that is when he attended). Mom would elbow him in the side to wake him and he would sit up as if nothing happened.   

Years later I can recall a time when another pastor was honoring veterans.  One elderly gentleman was sitting in the front row of the sanctuary and came especially for that service.  From the pulpit the pastor said,  

“I’d like to honor a certain WW2 veteran visiting with us today,
but can’t because he’s asleep and I don’t want to wake him.” 

Sleeping was something I patterned from what I observed from “godly” people.  So catching a few winks really wasn’t that big of a deal to God if the representatives of His Kingdom were active participants in this behavior. 

10 Tricks of Church Sleepers

Although the title for this section was meant to be taken as tongue in cheek, things happen in church that sometimes are funny. 
How many times have you seen a faithful soul drop a Bible or hymnbook on the floor because it slid off their lap while they dozed?  I can’t tell you how many people I’ve witnessed hitting their heads on a pew, because they fell sideways when falling asleep during prayer. 

For the record, most people don’t set out to fall asleep during a church service or in prayer, but often find it difficult to stay awake when closing your eyes is expected.  Some have become extremely talented and gifted at the craft of inappropriate sleeping. 

It’s not that hard to become a good church and prayer sleeper really.  Snorting and snoring is a clear give away, but people become quite cleaver when it comes to awkward incidences concerning sleeping in church.   

I haven’t participated in most of these practices, but have heard them told from qualified sources of the trade.  I’m not advocating any of these, but here are a few that you might think twice about doing now that they are revealed!   

1 – Pretending to take notes with your head down is an easy one.   

2 – While seated, bend forward to pick up something off the floor but take your time in doing it. 

3 – Lean forward and place elbows on knees with head in your hands. 

4 – Lean forward resting your arms on the pew in front of you with head lowered as if listening.  

5 – Lean forward resting your head on the pew in front of you looking toward the floor. 

6 – Put your arm around your spouse with heads touching as if praying in agreement.  (This one looks serious.  Who would question it?) 

7 – Browse through your purse looking down.  This will take a while for some.  Be sure to capture that mint at the bottom or at least come up with a tissue, it will make it look as if you were on a mission. 

8 – Keep your sunglasses on during the service. 

9 – Sit still and stare at the pastor.  Sleeping with your eyes open is a real talent wouldn’t you say?  I can’t do it, but have watched it being done. 

10 – With eyes closed, rub your forehead like you have a headache.  

I became so good at falling asleep through prayer that even when the pastor (or anyone else for that matter who was praying) said “Amen”, I would raise my head slowly as if I was finishing up on my own prayers and nobody thought differently.  That is until one day … it happened! 

My Little Secret 

As an adult I’ve learned to fellowship with all denominations even though I am a practicing non-denominationalist unlike my youth days.  I grew up attending a traditional Baptist church, and when the pastor prayed people were very still and there wasn’t any hand raising or shouting “Amen” brother.  If your hand happened to float upward in the air, you better have a question for the pastor. 

When the pastor prayed the sanctuary was silent with only his voice resounding through the great room.  If a child began to stir they were removed as quickly and quietly as possible so the congregation wouldn’t be distracted.  We were an obedient group of people. 

Staying awake during the service wasn’t usually an issue, but come prayer time this young Baptist girl needed to be a shouting, hand raising Pentecostal inside not to venture into lala land. 

One particular Sunday evening I was really tired for some reason.  I did whatever I could to stay awake, and sitting next to my mother made it a real effort indeed.   

I had been working on getting better at staying awake during prayer.  Of course no one knew my little secret.  After all it wasn’t hurting anyone right? 

By now I was teaching Sunday School and the Holy Spirit was working on my behavior as a leader to the little third graders I taught. What kind of example would I be if even their teacher fell asleep during the service? 

While taking notes (I really was and still do in each service) I dozed off … I mean really fell asleep dream and all.  How this got by my Mom somehow I can’t fathom, because she never missed a thing I did.  

I woke up startled and nearly bounced out of the pew as my body was flung forward in panic.  In a scream of horror I shouted, “AHHHH!”  Why couldn’t it have been an “aha” moment with words like Hallelujah, praise God or something religious at least, then everyone would have been thrilled I got the point of the message? 

Mom did a zip head turn and gave me that church look nobody wants to see.  It was like the domino effect with a chain reaction of faces zooming in on me to see what happened.  I was so embarrassed watching some of the people around me trying not to laugh, while the others looked on with disapproval. 

How I escaped getting into trouble that day is beyond me, but my mother never said anything.  Now everyone knew my “little” secret, because I had openly displayed it so well.  Sitting almost mid-center of the church I suppose she felt the sudden outburst that drew everyone’s attention was enough punishment. 

Among Disciples 

This subject was preying on my mind all week; not that it was bugging me about others, but because of me.  Sleeping in church thankfully is a behavior the Lord has helped me curtail, but at times I still find myself struggling with it in my private prayer life.   

I’m not picking on those who have slept during sermons or during their time in fellowship with God in prayer.  Many people blame it on the message saying they’re boring or too long, but what about when you’re home and fall asleep while studying the Word or praying?  That would make you the bore wouldn’t it? 

There are tons of reasons why this happens and I won’t go into those now, but some are valid and others not so much.  Not enough sleep, work or health related issues, emergencies, etc. are reasons why we tend to fall asleep at the most inappropriate times. Let’s suffice it to say, no one is exempt when it comes to being attentive all the time. 

The truth is falling asleep during prayer isn’t something new for believers.  If you’ve done this I’d like to tell you that you’re one of the crowd when it comes to falling asleep on God.  I’ve even heard of a pastor who fell asleep while standing and dropped his hymnal in front of the congregation.  

As a matter of fact, you are among many Disciples of Christ who have fallen asleep on the Master.  At a critical point in the life of Jesus, He asked disciples Peter, James and John if they would watch and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26) 

How could they possibly fall asleep on Jesus Himself?  Who knows all the details, but we know this … they did and not just once! 

Can’t you picture Paul’s face when he was preaching and a man in the balcony fell asleep plunging to his death during the service?  Thankfully due to his own personal prayer life, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was on Paul and the story has a good ending. 

Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘he’s alive!’ Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well …”  (Acts 20:10-12a NLT)

I expect Eutychus didn’t fall asleep during any sermon or prayer after that day. (from Acts 20:7-12)   

Our Faith, God’s Favor 

When Jesus asked the disciples to stay awake to pray, He was asking for them to pray in agreement through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord’s faith was strong enough to see Him through, but Jesus was trying to teach them several things.  One of them was that together the power of God was multiplied because their faith supported one another as a strong cord.

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV)
 

Our prayers of faith are weapons of warfare that enable us to fight spiritual battles in the heavens.  We don’t think of it, but falling asleep during prayer is a battle the devil wants us to lose.  If we don’t stay in favor with God, prayers won’t get answered and our faith walk is destroyed.


Staying awake keeps our minds focused on the right things, therefore, the stronghold of sin is brought into captivity.  Falling asleep may not necessarily be a sin, but it is rude and destructive to a believer.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
(2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV)

My husband reminded me of a verse that he thought of when we discussed sleeping in church.  James 5 states that the prayers of the saints have tremendous power available to them.  It is effectual through the power given to us by the Holy Spirit, which is part of the grace/favor benefits we received upon salvation.   

It was Paul’s faith mixed with the Holy Spirit’s power that produced favor on that man’s (Eutychus) life.  The Amplified Bible says it like this: 

“The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God - it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. (James 5:16b AMP) 

Unless we spend time in prayer on a regular basis we will not receive such an anointing like Paul or others of faith have experienced, because our faith just isn’t on level with the favor God wants to give.  I think that’s a pretty good reason to make an effort of staying awake in times of worship and prayer. 

There’s much power in prayer. God knows it, satan knows it … do you? 

This Week’s Challenge:
Staying Awake During Prayer 

When my husband and I discussed this topic he admitted his knees went out from him one time while standing during prayer.  He had fallen asleep and they hit the pew in front of him making a bang.  See, you never know everything about your spouse. 

Rounding out our prayer segment I felt that this may be something others are having difficulty with, and so I didn’t want to leave the subject without at least touching on it. 

This week when I fell asleep on hubby it was because I had suffered from heat exhaustion and was still feeling the results of it.  Even so, there are things I do now to help me remain awake during prayer whether I’m out or at home spending time alone with the Lord. 

Our challenge this week is to try these 10 things to stay awake during prayer or church services.  If you know someone with this problem, instead of judging them, try helping by sharing these tips. 

Ten Things to Help Stay Awake During Prayer & Church 

1 - It may be obvious, but getting a good night’s sleep can help us avoid falling asleep during prayer or in church.

2 - Try moving around more if possible.  Become more active during the song service by moving your arms or legs for stimulation. 

3 - Put a piece of candy or gum in your mouth.  The movement of chewing gum will help you stay awake. 

4 - Offer to have a child sit with you during the service. Parents with several young ones welcome this act of kindness.  No one dare close their eyes when watching someone else’s loved one. 

5 - Participate in the service as an usher or sanctuary server/guide.  If you’re standing you probably won’t fall asleep, well maybe. 

6 - Be active in the choir or special services in the church.  Even though these are for a short time during the service, it is enough activity to keep you alert for the rest of the service. 

7 - Pray over your mind that it is receptive to receive what God is revealing to you through His servant before any service.   

8 - Actually take notes and jot down phrases that speak to your spirit. 

9 - Bring a “real” bible to church and turn to each passage.  Physically following along with the passages will help you stay alert. 

10 – If you find yourself falling asleep on the Lord at home, stand up and walk around the area while remaining in prayer.  Getting out of bed shows God that He is your “Dear Heavenly Father” and what He says matters to you. 

By developing a different mindset you will find that your prayer life will be more fulfilling, powerful and effective.   

One more thing before you leave …

Remember when I fell asleep at the computer?  Well, I didn’t realize that something or someone (not mentioning the kitty) hit certain keys that froze the computer.  Hubby had to do a total restore … so leaving him to it I retreated to the bedroom to pray before falling asleep!  Thanks honey.

If this article has encouraged or helped you, please consider sharing it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this post. 

Until next time, remember that Holy Spirit favor is powerful! 

“Favor is distributed through my Spirit.”
Jesus Christ 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

When used, the words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives.

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

What’s New This Week: Click on the photo or link.

Six Sessions on the Transforming Power of Prayer
by Jim Cymbala
Good for personal or small group study. 

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Image:  Lady Asleep at Computer   Man Sleeping in Church   Mr. Bean Sleeping in Church   Snoring in Church Eutychus in Church

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Friday, June 23, 2017

Making Favored Decisions

Decisions … depending on where you live in this universe (I imagine the space station is exempt from this study as theirs is probably triple that of us earthlings) according to research, the “average” adult makes thousands a day, yet not all of them are on purpose.   

There would be little doubt in my mind that the majority of those who live outside of the USA disagree with this statement.  America doesn’t realize how blessed it is with the variety of choices we get to make, solely based on the abundance of products in this country.  It’s not that way all over the world. 

I can remember talking with a neighbor over some remodeling that she was planning.  Rose couldn’t make up her mind.  Running her fingers through her hair with frustration she looked at all the selections.   

Baffled and overwhelmed my friend was in a stupor as to what she should do.  With a smile on my face I stretched out my arms over the samples and simply said,  

“Yes, but look at all the choices you have to help with the decision.” 

Okay … somehow that didn’t quite help. 

Welcome new friends this week from:
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I am so thankful for your visit and hope that you come back each week to participate in the weekly challenges.  Join us in our new series as we spend time in the study of Daily Favor Prayers. 

You are welcome to leave comments or prayer requests below.  All are private. I would love to hear from you and how Daily Favor has worked in your life.  Contact me by leaving a message in the box at the bottom of this week’s post.  

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That Miracle Drink 

From the time we open our eyes until they shut at night our day is jam packed with decisions.  Not all of them are life altering, but some come close.  I know of one in the form of a beverage. 

One morning my husband had to stop over my sister-in-law’s to pick up her sons. They were going to work with him for the day on a building site.  She answered the door while the boys gathered their things. 

As hubby entered the room he began a typical morning conversation, but before he finished his sentence she held up her hand like a stop sign cutting him off mid-stream.  Keeping silent she motioned for him to follow her into the kitchen. As she poured a cup of coffee into a large mug my husband waited for a signal for when he could resume his conversation. 

Taking a few sips she sighed, leaning back on the counter she said, “Okay, now I can talk!”  She was serious, and wouldn’t make one decision to engage in anything as simple as “good morning” until she downed a few gulps of that miraculous brown fluid that causes her brain to move into motion.  It’s amazing how that runs in my family!  The good thing though is that she never starts a day with an unkind word. 

Choose Me 

What about those who need that cup of coffee on their way to work? They mentally ask themselves if they will have a meal at home or on the fly dashing out the door.  Who can keep up with the vast amount of flavors for what used to be a simple cup of coffee? 

Finally our day settles in with the responsibilities set before us.  We sit down to the computer and make even more decisions.  Do we dare open that email, knowing if we do it will take hours before we actually get down to work after we’ve answered them all?   

Who will be the next favored soul to get followed on social media, or who will get eliminated from the inner group we sacredly follow each day?  No matter how hard we try, one cannot escape making decisions in life. 

Decision Based 

Each day people make choices over which cable channel to watch. Not having it eliminates one decision for me … somehow I don’t find much comfort in that.  Hmmm.  Oh, I don’t mind living without cable (it’s a decision we’ve made), it’s that it only eliminates one of the thousands of things I have to decide!

Some decisions we make mainly because we’re used to something so we continue to do that particular thing the same way every time we confront that situation.  For instance, getting up at a certain time, going to bed, what and when to eat and what to wear are pretty much “automatic decision based” modes, simply because they are a regular practice in our daily lives.  

There are decisions we make out of necessity merely because we feel we have no other choice. Many of these are founded on fear, anxiety, stress or exhaustion; these often turn out to be wrong choices. 

From birth we learn quickly the process of decision making.  As we observe others it’s not long before we realize that certain decisions give us what we want or cause friction in our relationships. 

We also make decisions because our parents did things “that way” and it’s just easier to agree than disagree.   Not wanting to stand out as the oddball sometimes our decisions are forced by peer or co-worker pressure.

On and On 

Decisions are a process that takes time by making choices that are usually based on thoughts. They are an act of our own free will to do or not to do something.   


It’s hard to believe that according to research, most adults can make around 35,000 decisions in one day.  However, when you break it down into categories you see how they add up over the course of 24 hours. 

With the routine decisions under our belt on auto-pilot let’s add a few hundred more to the day.  What about any shopping you need to do?  Will the kids be picked up at school before carting them off to some sports event?  How’s the job hunting/career thing working out for you?  Did you remember to vote or return the book to the library? 

What will you do with your spare time this weekend?  Is church on the schedule, relatives, parties, barbecues, weddings … Have you said yes to that marriage proposal; where will you honeymoon? 

Ladies, let’s not forget all the things we have to decide for our spouses just to keep them on target for their day.  Each time hubby leaves the house I run through a list of things he needs to take with him such as keys, water, wallet, meds, sunglasses, cane umbrella, food, hat, etc.  Then I remind him where he needs to go and in which order so that he can get everything done. 

I guess you can get my point.  On and on, we’re always making some sort of decision even if it’s the most minor or minuscule details.  This kind of choice making can get tiring, but most of the time we muddle through because it’s the sort of thing one has to do to get through the day.   

What about other decisions we make in life … the ones we make based on emotions? 

Are You Willing or Obedient? 

Have you ever said, “I wish I never did or said that?” I know I have.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could hit a “delete” tab and make the wrong decision go away forever?  My friend, making decisions based on emotions can be terribly wrong, and leaving God out of our plans is a good way to have favor deleted from our life.   

The Bible tells believers in Isaiah 1:19 that our decisions are blessed with favor when they come from obeying the Lord. The choices we make will be blessed when we follow God’s revealed will.  That is, what He has let us know through the written (logos) Word in the Bible. 

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat of the good of the land."
(Isaiah 1:19 NKJV)

This is pretty straight forward if you understand the Bible, and that will come from spending time in the Word.  Here’s an easy concept to grasp. 

No one need argue over loving your neighbor, because it’s spelled out in the Bible.  So the decision to love others will be blessed because it’s already revealed that it’s what God wants us to do as are these: 

“For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery,
you shall not murder, you shall not steal,
you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet,
and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this
saying, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Romans 13:9 NKJV) 

What about situations/things that aren’t spelled out in the Bible, how can we make the right decisions in those cases?  This is where spending time in prayer comes into our daily plans.  

Through the “spoken word” God reveals information to our heart through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. God’s Spirit will impress on us which decision to make.  In other words, there are many things He clearly speaks to us if our will is in line with His.  

There is a benefit to understanding/knowing how God thinks and knowing His will for us. It makes it easier to eliminate the things we know are not of Him. 

Favored Decisions 

Let’s say you are seeking the Lord on a specific position or job and aren’t sure what to do.  If you seek Him in prayer God will reveal to your spirit the path you should take. When you act on that knowledge the Lord will release favor on the situation. 

Several years ago William was forced to work weekends which took him out of any Sunday church activities.  His desire was to work the day shift and not on weekends, at least not on Sunday.

He and his wife prayed for months about what God would have them do.  When the gentleman approached his boss he was given an ultimatum.  

Either William was to remain where he was or take a $6,000 cut in salary, his wages would be reduced by $3.00 an hour, and he would be transferred to the maintenance department.  What do you think he did?  Yep … he took the cut in pay. 

By deciding to follow the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, God blessed William with favor for his obedience.  If there was another opening, the program would take at least two years for him to reach the same level and pay scale.   However, that’s not what happened, because it wasn’t the plan God had for him. 

God favored the decision this couple made, because their hearts desire was to please the Lord by putting Him first in their lives.  They included God in their decision. They chose to follow the principles of God, because they had a desire to do the will of God.  His Will was their will, so their will became God’s will. 

Within six months he was transferred back to the job where he was before making the same amount of money, except now with the benefit of overtime – not on weekends! 

 Six Steps on How to Be Blessed with Favor 

1 - Our decisions will be blessed when we include God in them.   

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not depend on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge (or know) Him,
and He will make your paths straight."
(Proverbs 3:5-6 ISV International Standard Version ISV) 

Stay in fellowship through prayer and the reading of His Word.  When we’re out of fellowship with God we can easily make wrong decisions thinking they are right. 

2 - Our decisions will receive favor when they follow the will and law of God. 

Biblical laws aren’t like our kind of laws, but are laws written on a believer’s heart revealed through the scriptures and the Holy Spirit as our relationship grows in the Lord.   Not wanting to follow the will of God can get us into so much trouble, plus it takes us out of His favor and blessings.  

"When they live by My statutes and keep My ordinances
by observing them, then they’ll be My people and I will be their God. 
 but to those whose hearts delight in loathsome things and
detestable practices, I'll bring the consequences of their
behavior crashing down on their own heads,
declares the Lord GOD."
(Ezekiel 11:20-22 ISV International Standard Version) 

Even satan knows God’s will, truth and Word, that’s why he tried to tempt Jesus.  The thing is though, Jesus knew he quoted the scriptures wrong.  If we aren’t versed in the Word we might think we are making sound decisions based on the Bible, but they could be totally wrong.   

3 - Our decisions will be blessed if we delight ourselves in the Lord. 

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the
desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV) 

4 – Our decision will be blessed if we chose to follow God, not man. 

Are we trying to please God, others or ourselves?  The decisions we form concerning friendships make a difference in the amount of favor we will receive from the Lord. 

17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements that oppose the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them, 18 because such people are not serving the Messiah Christ our Lord, but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” (Romans 16:17-18 ISV) 

5 - Our decisions will be blessed if our hearts desire is to serve God.  Whether we realize it, the decisions we make truly reveal the deepest desires of our heart.  

In the Old Testament of the Bible we read about an honorable and godly man named Joshua who made wise decisions. He declared among the people that he chose to serve the Lord, and challenged them to make a decision of whom they would follow.  Notice he didn’t tell them they had to decide to follow his God, but declared who he had chosen. 

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15. NKJV) 

By making the decision to serve God Joshua received great favor and those who did the same also received blessings, because he was in the will of God. 

6 – Our decision to seek God as a source of wisdom will lead us into favor. 

God created us to look to Him as our source of wisdom.  Do not lean on your own understanding; he wants to direct your path into favor and success. 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NKJV) 

Where are you seeking wisdom and counsel?  Is your source for making decisions based on God’s word and will?  Is it counter to the will of God?  If so, it won’t be blessed by God.   

This Week’s Challenge:
Learn to Make God Favored Decisions 

The Bible doesn’t always point out specific things we are to do, but the Holy Spirit will reveal to our heart the correct decisions to make for any particular instance if we include God in them.  

It’s called the unction or the anointing of the Holy Spirit that speaks to believers and gives us a knowing of what to do that pleases the Lord. (2 Corinthians 1:21)

Our challenge this week is to make an effort to consciously include Christ in the decisions we make. 

Purposely employ the “Six Steps on How to Be Blessed with Favor” in your prayer life and throughout the day.  Let the Lord know that you truly desire His will and want to know what He thinks.   

Ask the Holy Spirit to let you know if you’re heading in the wrong direction, and to give you the courage needed to do what’s right. 

We all make decisions every day; some not so earth-shaking, while others change our lives forever.  Quick decisions or delayed ones; both can be disastrous if God isn’t in them. 

As you pray and seek God’s desires, He will give you the wisdom needed to make the right decisions for life.   

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart."
(Psalm 40:8 NKJV) 

Life doesn't have to be confusing, overwhelming or baffle us when we have to make hard choices.  We have help ...
If God has a good plan for us, isn’t it time we decided to seek and include Him in our lives?  One thing for sure, He won’t keep you waiting until He’s had His coffee.

“For whoever finds Me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.”
(Proverbs 8:35 NKJV)


If this article has encouraged or helped you, please consider sharing it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this post. 

Until next time, find God and you’ll find His favor. 

“With Me you will have eternal life and favor.”
Jesus Christ 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

When used, the words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no place in our lives. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

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