Talk and praise are cheap when they don’t have love to back them. In difficult situations people often find out the true colors of others and how they feel about them in the way they are responding to individual burdens. Feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety are overwhelming, because some can’t fathom what it means to be loved unconditionally. They don’t see a way out or hope beyond a current crisis. Crying out in desperation they don’t feel heard or special in what they are going through, and because so many others may be experiencing their own difficulties, a plea for help goes unnoticed.
This is why the message in Exodus 19 God spoke to Moses to tell the people was so important. Jehovah wanted them to know their cries were heard and that they were His own specially loved treasures. God is still saying that message!
I can’t recall a time when someone praised me simply because of who I was. Nor do I remember anyone ever saying I was special. In fact, I was told the exact opposite by someone I loved in my adult years! "You're not special, and she's prettier than you."
Not thinking I was important really didn’t give me much confidence in succeeding in life, and being told unkind things about my looks really took me to a new level of feeling unloved and unworthy. However, that changed through learning about the love of God through Christ Jesus.
Do I still think about those things that were said to me? Of course, but not as often, and I no longer let them define who I am or how I feel.
Coming to the understanding that God loves you not because of your gifts, talents or special abilities is eye-opening! I think of it like this … God loved me so much that He picked special skills and selected attributes that would make me who I was, and I would love who I am (learning to like myself came first).
God loved and fashioned me into who I am because He wanted me to love what He loved – me! He planned for and wanted me, not someone "like" me, but flesh and bones literal me who He knew would mess-up and not always get things right!
When a parent receives a newborn they love it unconditionally regardless of what it may or may not become in the future. They see the bald, pink, pudgy child as perfect and beautiful.
Now I have seen some of those "perfect" kids and have thought, surely you are not blind - that kid is downright ... well, you know where I am going with this. What others find beautiful is not always beauty or perfection in the eye of another beholder.
They same goes for how God created each person. As a parent, He sees every child of His as perfection, not perfection in waiting. He is fully aware of the downfalls that will come throughout our lives, the mistakes, and wrong decisions we will encounter, yet that does not stop Him loving us.
I am favored by God not because of what I can bring to Him or do for Him, but because He first loved me so much that He wanted favor, salvation and blessings to be on my entire life (throughout eternity).
"We love Him (Jesus/God) because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19 NKJV)
He, on purpose, created me to be just like this for Himself and His glory. He wants me! He knows me! He knows my name!
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (from Isaiah 43:1-3 NKJV)
He wanted me, named me, and calls me His very own. Not as a possession to control, but as a person to fellowship with and enjoy life with on a continual basis. He saved me (and you my friend) for this reason!
You Are Awesome to God
In prayer David praised Jehovah over the love of God in his very own creation as Psalm 139:14 states:
"... I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Let us read the complete statement for a full understanding of his thankfulness concerning God's desire to have "David" (you and me as well) specifically in His life.
"For You fashioned my inmost being, You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I thank You because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; Your works are wonders - I know this very well." (Psalm 139:13-14 Complete Jewish Bible)
David was fully aware of the care and attention given to each detail in designing him as a one-of-a-kind unique individual. That statement can be told for everyone; no one is patterened after another. Each has their own wonderfully made mold designed for them. If that's not proof of God's love for you specifically, I do not know what is!
All those quirky things people find annoying ... God did that. All the strange tastes, likes and interests you have that are so different from others ... God did that. Not to make you less than anyone else, but to stand out from everyone else! You are truly special!
You are not the same or like anyone else on purpose, because God did not need two of anyone! He wanted one you and you were called "good" in His creation of you! No evil thought went into creating anyone, so if those things are present, they were not part of God's initial design.
"God saw all He had made, and it was VERY good." (Genesis 1:31a)
I love this about God. He specifically picked out what He wanted to be in my "make-up" and fashioned everything else to fit in place so the outcome would be ME, not anyone else, but perfectly made to His satisfaction without any hesitation! Isn't that amazing? He has designed each person to ever be born (past, present and future) to be exactly how He wanted.
I totally get how King David felt when he wrote Psalm 23 from experiencing the love of God personally, no matter how many times He failed or fell from grace.
“Surely goodness, mercy (unending unmerited favor), and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord (and His presence) shall be my dwelling place.” (Psalm 23:6)
These aren’t just words to make him feel good when things were going bad or when he had passed on to glory. They were words of hope for the living here on earth that helped David cope.
Friends, Psalm 23 is not for the dead, but for the living! You will have no enemies, dark valleys, fear or lack anything in Heaven.
David knew that God’s promises were real and for his life then and there. They are just as real for us here and now!
In verse six the term “goodness” means in the widest sense it is God’s pleasure to present to His precious treasure the most beautiful, best, bountiful, kindest, loving, cheerful things shall be in his favor (yours, mine or anyone who believes).
Instead of thinking of this passage for just King David, put your name in it as I have and receive it as God talking to you personally.
"His mercy on me (say your name) is kind implying beauty, favor and goodness. This mercy gift of favor will follow, run after with intent to pursue, chase or hunt after me (say your name) my entire life."
There will never be a time in your life when people or circumstances do not disappoint. That is why what I am sharing is so important and vital for you to take hold of it in your spirit right now.
When you wholeheartedly believe this is true, the way you handle the unexpected challenges of life will be different because you are expecting God's covenant favor to always be with you. It is a game and life changer when you finally believe you are truly special.
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 as an inheritance of being His child. If you would like to have this gift also, click here to learn more.
Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
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. Content and Image Copyright from Favored1/Fay Ann Daniels unless noted. Do not copy.
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Revise and rewritten exerpt from original article "Hope Beyond Lockdown: Part 1". Unless noted, scripture reference in series was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway. Image Creative Common License if not specified.
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