In the first part of the month, we bestow affection and give rewards to educational teachers from around the world.
The latter half of the month we honor our pastor’s and spiritual leaders.
I’m tremendously blessed receiving from both areas, but I’ve also been on the other side of the platform as the student. This is where the lessons learned weren’t always ones I wanted, especially when it brought difficulty, hardship or misfortune. It's also where I learned about the tests through adversity and time to go back to the classroom for answers.
Continue reading ... this timeless classic anniversary teaching from Fay.
Until next time, Favored Blessings
*For those who trust in Jesus Christ, God gives the promise of life here but also the gift of eternal life (in Heaven; a Kingdom that cannot be shaken) as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.
*Names in articles are not used but changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
Thankfully, we have a wonderful set of trees that blanket the area where we like to sit throughout the day that keeps the burning rays off us. Their long branches coupled with the massive trumpet vines cascading along the fence, provide the protection we need all day long. That is, until early spring this year when a tornadic activity came through and ripped out several of the trees. Now there is a giant gap between the trees and that much needed shield from the elements is sadly gone.
My husband and I loved having those trees in the yard because they provided a shield from the sun. We sat under the canopy of branches that stretched out over the entire back area giving us a break from the intense heat. Without those precious trees the pleasure of fellowshipping under the skimpy canopy that remains is not the same.
Thinking about what those trees provided for us reminded me of one of my favorite verses I claim in prayer daily from the book of Psalm. I am pretty sure you know which passage I am referring to as it is one that I have taught on so many times here on Daily Favor. The latest was early this summer in the teaching Surrounded by His Favor Shield.
When I think of what a shield offers or provides and how it is used, the word protection or covering from harm pops into my head just like those trees did for us. No matter where we sat in the back yard the shade from the branches wrapped around the area and surrounded us with a coolness that was only available when we were under it.
If we walked away from the canopy of branches area, the protective shaded covering was immediately gone. The comfort from the shade was only available while we stayed under the radius of the canopy over us.
That scenario is the same for those who belong to Christ. Each new morning the Lord has already set His mercy in motion for us. His blessing on the righteous falls under the favor covering as kindness and joy unfolds throughout the day.
"Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous. Your favor wraps around each one and covers them under your canopy of kindness and joy.” (Psalm 5:12 TPT)
We have a canopy of favor (umbrella covering) as children of the Lord. When we use any umbrella in the natural realm, it is to keep something off us, such as the rain or sun. It is a source of protection from harmful elements. The umbrella opens like a canopy to shield us from the conditions around us. It does not stop it from raining or keep the sun from shining, but prevents the outside conditions from touching us directly.
There are even times when the rain will get you wet from the wind. The canopy umbrella is a shield only and does not change what is happening in the world. It will however provide a shelter, a safe place from it.
I want you to think of this example and apply it deeply into your thoughts. The next time you are under the shade of a tree or raise an umbrella, remember that God’s shield is already in place for you if you stay under it. His canopy of protection is always there for those who stay in fellowship with Him. Step outside that boundary and the shield is no longer effective.
Study God’s word and stay close to the Lord as He fulfills each promise of hope. His hand is open to give you the desires of your heart. Daily spend time in fellowship thanking Him for the blessing of His favor that covers you like an umbrella and loving canopy shielding you continually.
Although my trees are not there to cover me any longer, I have a greater covering source that even the harshest storms of life cannot destroy – the mighty hand of God’s Canopy of Favor.
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.
Until next time, Favored Blessings
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| Eighty and Fabulous Gift Set |
We arrived at the restaurant and had parked when here she
comes, right up behind us with a big grin on her face. In a flash, Tris was on our heels with a
stretched-out arm shouting, “I got the door.”
Entering the dining area the hostess instructed us to sit
where we liked. Plunking her pocketbook
on the floor she pulled out her chair and started in on a story. Oh no … it was not long before we were
laughing anticipating the outcome of her “swallowed tooth” story! We were not disappointed.
During our conversation, she was excited over showing off the
new pink coffee mug gift set to her senior girlfriend group – the “magnificent
seven,” and that she was going to bring it next time they met for dinner. Her
response sent us over the moon knowing it was something she liked.
“I’m glad you liked our gift and these are for you.”
I said handing her a yellow bouquet of flowers and dripping water all over the
table from the carry sack in which they were contained. I quickly began sopping up the water with napkins
when she took the flowers and leaned them up against her purse on the floor.
Pushing a small chocolate cream cake next to her plate I said,
“This is for you as well.” Putting down
her fork she smiled and picked up the dessert. “Ooooh, let’s just eat this!” She read my mind!
As we sat at the table I explained to our server that we
were celebrating my friend’s birthday and shared her age. Looking at her the lady acted surprised and
could not believe it. I felt the same
and thought God surely renewed her youth just like it says in His word.
Abounding in Benefits
There are many “benefits” as the Bible calls it, described for
those who accept and follow Christ as their Savior according to Psalm 103. God blesses the soul, forgives sins, heals diseases,
supplies good things, and even renews our bodies to name a few of those salvation
benefits.
However, there are more promises from God that go far beyond
the few mentioned in this passage and one is His favor. In verse 4 of that same chapter, it states
how God gives lovingkindness and mercy.
“Who redeems your life from destruction (saves you from
going to hell), Who crowns (adorns, encircles) you with lovingkindness and
tender mercies.”
The word “mercies” from the original Hebrew translation of
this verse means that God has compassion for us from the beginning; we are
cherished with great love from before we are born. Here God implies that He cherishes, takes
pity on, and has tender mercy for the fetus acknowledging it is a living being
He loves.
8) “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy (great in mercy).
In verse eight “merciful” means God is compassionate and
full of mercy. Moving down in the blessing list of benefits we see the word
mercy again several times, only it does not mean the same as in the previous
verses.
Pick up with the last part of verse 8:
" ... and plenteous in mercy (great in mercy).
11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is
His mercy toward them that fear (revere) Him.
12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He
removed our transgressions (confessed sins) from us.
17) … but the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting
to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s
children;
18) To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember
His commandments to do them."
If we look at verses 8b (the term mercy), 11 and 17, the same word means a great deal more than God’s great compassion. It includes: kindness, goodness, mercy, beauty and yes – favor referring to the person in reference.
Not only does God give favor, He abounds in it! These things cannot be bought, worked for, or
earned, but are given freely from the Lord because of His mercy (compassion).
If you are born again God's favor is automatically on
your life and available the moment you asked Jesus into your life and heart. Favor is a gift from God if you are a
believer, but many Christians do not know or realize it. Even more they do not
know how to walk in God's favor or recognize it in their daily lives.
Scriptures teach in Psalm 3:8 that the blessing of the Lord
is on His people. We can ask for favor on certain situations or increase
of favor, but the initial blessing of favor (compassionate mercy) we do not
need to ask for because it is already on you as a child of God’s.
Every person who trusts Jesus as their Savior under the New
Testament covenant, becomes an heir to the promises God made to Abraham.
We are identified as "seed" and “joint heirs with Jesus,” therefore
qualifying us as heirs to the covenant promise made to Abraham in the Old
Testament.
Upon salvation every individual receives the blessing of God
that includes His favor. They go together and cannot be separated.
Unfortunately, most Christians only believe in salvation
that grants them a place in Heaven one day; they never walk in God's blessing
or favor even though it is available to every child of God. It cannot be
earned, bought, or worked for … it is a gift!
It was one year ago since we first met sweet Tris at a water
dispenser in Walmart, and a few weeks later we were honored to celebrate her 79th
birthday at her home. After a wonderful
time of fellowship, she shared her love for Jesus and we ended the afternoon in
a time of prayer and blessings.
I am not sure how much she knows about God’s favor or
understands the depth of it, but pray she will experience this gift from the
Lord in ways more than she could ever ask or think. My prayer is the same for you!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians
3:20 NKJV)
Did you know that certain members who work for the United Kingdom Royal family are often gifted homes somewhere on the royal estate properties during their time of service? I did not, but found it fascinating and a nice benefit that most are not privileged to receive ever in a lifetime.
These properties are referred to as “grace and favor” homes. Being able to live rent or mortgage free is one perk for the chosen few. Although this is a financially great benefit, in the end, these homes are not theirs to keep. At some point the grace and favor eventually runs out for every individual, returning the use of the home to the owner(s).
Who owns these properties you ask? The government, big-ticket companies, or mega corporations? No, but that would have been a good guess.
They are owned by the Crown Estate (belonging to the reigning Queen or King) and are official temporary residences of the individuals whose work falls in line with national importance. It is a type of “renewal” for services given to the current monarchy. This is a privilege reserved for those associated directly to the royal family.
The idea of a grace and favor home began under the reign of King George 3rd in 1760 when he chose not to keep his main place of living at Hampton Court Palace. He preferred to use Kew Palace as the royal residence. The King made the decision to turn the Hampton Court Palace into a large house for residents. People would apply for an apartment if they served the Crown or state in any number of roles which included head gardeners, military leaders, diplomats or others holding a royal title.
In the past, there have been many individuals, as well as heads of state governments who have stayed in dozens of the great favor homes or properties; an estimate of over 140 homes or apartments spread across England, Scotland and Ireland.
An example of a grace and favor home is Frogmore Cottage which is located on the Windsor Castle estate near the actual much larger Frogmore House. It is a residence reserved for the current Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Former “hosts” as it is called included Queen Victoria’s Mother, Queen Charlotte and even Queen Mary. (Original cottage in above photo.)
Currently, the King’s niece, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack, are living there. However, this is subject to change at any given moment if her role changes and she no longer works for the Crown in some manner. Regardless of how close one is to the royals a time comes when they must leave regardless of their status or rank if their service to the throne is no longer active.
The Bible talks about Kingdom homes that God has prepared for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. No one pays for nor needs to renovate them in any way. They are beautifully and completely prepared for each believing individual by God Himself.
Jesus gave these words of comfort to those who believed in Him:
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid). You believe confidently in God, believe in Me (have faith in, rely on). In My Father’s house are many mansions, dwelling places.
If it were not so (true), I would have told you, because I go to prepare a place for you. I go and prepare a place for you and will come back and will take you to Myself (in Heaven), so that where I am you may be also.” (from John 14:1-3)
Just like the “grace and favor” homes of the King or Queen, God's promise of a dwelling place in Heaven are also reserved for the chosen. There is something uniquely different though between the two kingdoms.
Unlike the earthly royal homes, anyone who believes in Jesus as God's Son will one day live in a grace and favor home that is especially hand-crafted just for them and it is for eternity.
As the thunder roars and flashes of lightning illuminates the sky, the rain is pounding on the roof in a steady stream. Within a few hours the storm has subsided and the sun breaks through the clouds as if it were a new day. All is well.
The ground has absorbed the overflow of water and the strong root system of the trees has stabilized them to withstand the roughest weather. If it was not for the healthy, strong roots the trees would not have a chance of survival even the mildest of storms.
It is the same basics for you and me. What we feed our spirit, soul and body will determine how well we survive the “storms” of life.
The way trees are properly maintained or tended to by the caregiver predicts their outcome and future. If a young plant is not fed (fertilized), watered, and staked properly the tree does not stand much of a chance of surviving to live out its purpose.
How we maintain a good healthy balance is by “feeding” (reading and studying) on the word of God daily. Scriptures teach that God’s word is the key to all blessings that help us maintain, survive, and come out victorious in every situation. When we become nourished in the word our “root” system (spirit) becomes like a tree planted by a riverbank becoming deeply rooted and super strong.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the paths of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law, he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
Here is the same passage only in the New Living Translation.
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
In other words, delight, joy and prosperity come to the one who follows the ways of God. Their roots go extremely deep because he/she has gained a revelation of God through meditating on what He says.
Look at three things of what being deeply rooted in the scripture does for a believer in the Word:
1. Through studying and meditating the words of God we gain the substance needed for building faith, especially in difficult situations.
During trials we are rooted in God’s word to help stabilize us so that we do not waver through the testing of faith as it states in James chapter 1. If that happens (wavering back and forth from faith and doubt), we cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord. Favor and blessings do not come to those who continually waver in unbelief.
Daily meditating on the Word of God gives us an insight to how He does things and unlocks a door for favor. In the Old Testament God gave Joshua, rules of instruction, that if he followed them the results would lead to him being successful and prosperous.
“This Book of the Law” shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall mediate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
Joshua’s success depended on his obedience; God already told him how to make it happen through meditating, studying, and focusing on His word. It was up to Joshua, not God, as to whether he would find success or prosperity by what he did daily.
Joshua had to abide by the old covenant law during his lifetime, but since Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we now have a new covenant of grace. Romans 6:14 verifies how grace has redeemed us from the old law covenant.
“For sin will no longer be master (have dominion) over you, since you are not under (old) Law (as slaves), but under (unmerited, undeserved) grace (as recipients of God’s favor and mercy).
What then (are we to conclude)? Shall we sin because we live not under Law but under God’s favor and mercy? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:14-15 Amplified translation)
Now that we no longer live under law but by grace, how does the new covenant work? By faith through God's grace, mercy, and favor in the forgiveness of sin when we confess it to the Lord. Studying God’s word shows us what is sin to God and how to live in the new covenant blessings. There is no more sacrificing of animals, humans or anything else, because Jesus Christ became the sacrifice that covers every sin once and for all.
Accepting Jesus as your Savior means you have allowed Him
to be the sacrifice for the sins you committed against God without you being
punished. When you confess that you have
sinned, you acknowledge that you were guilty of doing something that does not
please the Heavenly Father. God in turn
forgives you and does not remember that sin any longer. He sees you as clean, Righteous,
and favored because you chose to do His will by asking for forgiveness.
In Joshua’s time there was only the law, because the New Testament had not been written until after Jesus was born. However, the secret to good success is still found in meditating on the Word of God, but the new covenant of grace (unmerited favor) sheds Holy Spirit light and insight to the ways of God that were not revealed in the old covenant.
This revelation can only be found by those deeply rooted in the God’s word. When we remain steadfast in the word as God commands, our faith grows, and when our faith is strong the grace and favor of God comes when we need it the most. In other words, we grow in grace and favor as our roots grow deeper in God.
2. Being rooted in God’s word will keep your faith from wavering and open doors of favor.
Look at what the Word of God says about wavering and not standing strong in faith in what the scripture teaches. It is self-explanatory as to what we can expect for doubting God at His word.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various
trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (maturity,
endurance, perseverance). But let
patience have its perfect work (in you), that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing.
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. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose (think) that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:1-7 NKJV)
Flip flopping back and forth from doubting to faith to doubt will get you nothing from the Lord. He cannot grant anything that was asked because the mind is not set on what He said about a given situation. Staying focused in faith on what God has said, no matter how things look in the natural, is the way to success, prosperity, and favor.
3. Deep word study daily equips us in discernment, wisdom, and knowledge, helping us understand each situation to know what to do.
Knowing what the word says will help squash the enemy when fear and doubt try to overtake your emotions. We cannot always override emotions, but we can stay in faith when they surface by taking control of them.
Deep Roots Keep You Going
It was one year to the day when I wrote a short first draft of this lesson that never got published due to “storms” that were happening with hubby at the time. Since then, we have been through several types of storms.
In my series teaching “Dealing with Life’s Distractions” I describe the many literal storms that totally uprooted several trees in our yard. Through it all, God showed us great favor and our spiritual roots are deeper in Him than ever.
Are you struggling to keep your “roots in the ground” and not be uprooted by life’s problems? Does your faith keep getting tossed with the wind preventing God from working in your life or showing you favor due to doubt or unbelief?
Start digging into the Bible for answers; they are there! Look up passages through the concordance in the back of most bibles under a list of subjects, situations, or a specific word that you are dealing with at the time.
Read each passage listed referring to that item you searched. Suppose you needed to know what God's word says on the subject of being lonely or feeling overwhelmed ... you would look up the passages listed following the word and read them. For example:
Lonely: Psalm 22, 42; John 14:15-31a
The more you do this the easier it will be to stay in faith, because you know what God says and that settles how you think on a matter regardless to the circumstances (therefore putting an end to wavering and unbelief). Choose to believe God’s word and dig your heels in deep, standing firm on what God has said in the scriptures.
Friend, God has a purpose and a plan for your life that includes fruit for good things, blessings and a life full of hope for the future. He has designed His children to have a desire to grow stronger – grow deeper roots to thrive, not strive to achieve success or prosperity.
The only way to remain deeply rooted for favor is to feed your spirit and soul with the best food possible – the Word of God.
Until next time, Favored Blessings
*For those who trust in Jesus Christ, God gives the promise of life here but also the gift of eternal life (in Heaven; a Kingdom that cannot be shaken) as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.
*For those who trust in Jesus Christ, God gives the promise of life here but also the gift of eternal life (in Heaven; a Kingdom that cannot be shaken) as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.