BANG!
BANG! BANG! … was the sound I heard shortly after cleaning up from one of our
rescue kitty’s morning feedings. Glancing
out the kitchen window I didn’t see anything and gathered it was hubby doing
something with a hammer, but that wasn’t the case.
“What was that noise.” Hubby asked as he entered the room.
“I thought it was
you. There it goes again …”
Leaning
across the sink to see out the window we both did a quick sweep of the yard
visually, when all of a sudden there was a man descending from the clouds.
“God … is that You
God?”
If
so we’re in big trouble! Last time I
checked the scriptures, Jesus wasn’t returning from the western skies speaking
with an accent.
I suppose to
most Americans God probably does have one (with His earthly body not being from
this part of the world). Still, I can’t
envision the Lord with a southern dialect even though it is the world’s most attractive
according to KLove radio. I tend to favor
an British accent myself, but no one asked me. Seems I just miss out on all those "national" poles taken.
There
was one huge detail that pretty much assured us that our “heavenly” traveler lived
among us … his neon orange vest and bright yellow hardhat. No, the person being lowered from a boom
bucket was indeed a man from the local telephone company not Jesus.
Favored
Help
My
husband and I are about to embark on a new project that required the phone
lines from the house to be removed or lifted. Since we don’t have a land line
we called the city to see what was to be done.
With
limited manpower it may be some time before company workers could come out to
the house for an assessment. There was
another issue. Not only did someone have
to make a visit, we had to be available when they did and currently time was
really being squeezed from all sides.
For
some years we have been praying through the details needed for what we are about
to do. I know, you want to know don’t you? In time … in time.
We have waited on God’s timing making sure
that it was part of His plan for our lives.
If it was we asked for His favor and help in making it plain by causing
man to show us favor in needed cases.
“Hear, O LORD, be gracious and show favor to me (us);
O LORD, be my (our) helper.” (Psalm 30:10 Amp)
The
Lord heard our prayers and has opened a way for this project to come to pass
with details falling into place, including the city making room for our request
in their busy schedule.
Open
Doors and Windows
I
can recall a time when I received a phone call from a woman in need of prayer
asking for God to open doors of opportunity for her. She was discouraged, claiming that her life
was in turmoil and “a mess” so to speak.
Being
aware of her situation I mentioned that God had already made provision with an
open door to one thing she prayed and wondered why she still needed Him to show
favor for it. The conversation continued
with reasons why she wasn’t willing to “go that route.” In other words, God’s way wasn’t her way. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Been there, done that!
So
often we keep praying that God would come down to earth and change things
around so that everything goes our way, but that’s not how He operates. Don’t get me wrong, the Lord is willing and
does want to answer our prayers granting the desires of our heart, but only if
it is part of His overall plan that ultimately leads souls to Him.
God
isn’t in the habit of handing out grace cards, mercy and favor to fit our
whims. The truth is “favor from on high”
is granted because God’s lovingkindness is greater than anything you or I could ever imagine. It pleases the Father to lavish
it on His children.
“For Your lovingkindness is great and higher than
the heavens;
Your truth reaches to the skies.” (Psalm 108:4
Amp)
It
may seem that God granted our request immediately, but the fact is, we have
waited on this for over a decade. At times
we were really impatient or downright ungrateful complaining about how long things
seem to be taking, especially when my friend’s answer came in just a few months.
Now
is when the Lord said, “Yes” to us. Maybe
it’s your time as well or perhaps you’re still in the “waiting room” on your situation.
Remember this, when God’s timing is right,
favor falls directly from Heaven on something we want because it has already been
approved by the Father and everyone or everything is in place.
Higher
than You Think
The
Lord reminds us in His Word that “His ways are higher than our ways.” He sees the whole picture from above and
knows when the timing is right for whatever it is we’re seeking in prayer.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are My ways
higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than
your thoughts.”
(from Isaiah 55:8-9 Amp)
When
we saw the gentleman coming down from the lift, my husband immediately went
outside to thank him for responding so fast even though he had other pressing items
on his roster. It wasn’t in our plans
that day to take care of this issue, but God knew we would have an open “window”
of opportunity before my husband left the house.
God caused “man” to show us favor in the
meeting of the two schedules resolving the problem.
Having
someone show up unexpectedly may not seem like an act of favor to you, but it
was for us. The remainder of the day
rested on what happened earlier that morning, all the way down to my husband
being in another place at the precise time God set for him to receive
additional favor from a sales manager who announced it was just for being “an awesome good sport”. (That’s another
story!)
Our
friend from the sky sure was a welcome one that day and his flashy clothes indeed
made him stand out from the rest. Even
so, our help truly came from the Lord with causing events and details to fall
into place. Had we not looked up toward
the heavens we may have literally missed opportunity banging (knocking) directly
before our eyes.
As
you press toward the high calling in your life, know that God has favor waiting
if you will only look up to Him for help.
Who knows, maybe Favor from on High will drop on your household today!
A
final reminder ...
In
the upcoming weeks believer’s in Jesus will be observing the Passion of the Christ
remembering His life, death, burial and resurrection. Nothing on earth can really tell the story of Jesus that takes into account all He suffered for us on the cross; we can only imagine.
During this time of reflection, let’s not forget the promise
of eternal life with Jesus in Heaven is the ultimate gift of mercy ... unmerited Favor from on High.
I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me
Until
next time, favor may be right above you.
“Look to Me for your help!”
Jesus Christ
Maybe
you don’t know the Living God that I know but would like to have this kind of
favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming a
child of the Savior.
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