It was early in the morning when a man started out on a daily
run in his neighborhood. After a few
minutes, he noticed a man running ahead of him.
Picking up the pace he gained on the runner and in no time blew passed him
elated that he had gained the lead.
Thinking highly of himself he suddenly realized he missed
his turn. Now he had to go back several blocks to where he was supposed to go
on his original run to get back on course.
The man realized he focused on a race the other runner was
not even running.Distracted from what
he should have been doing, he got caught up in a competition that never really
happened.
Certain Favor
The bible teaches that each of us are to run our own
race.We are only given anointing and
gifts to run the course God has set in place for us.The problem is that we often get sidetracked
and fail to be content in who God made us to be, which takes us off the course
for running the best race (journey) we can and delays our own reward.
Scripture teaches in Psalm 103:4 that “God redeems our
life from destruction; He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”The original Hebrew reference to lovingkindness
literally means crowned with beauty, favor, good deeds, kindness, and mercy for
life here on earth.In other words, we
are given the tools needed to get to the finish of our goals, dreams and vision
in life.
As a child of God, there is “certain favor” set aside
only for you.The same is for others, God
will not grant favor that takes away from another in their race.
No one else can receive what God ordained for you, but
you have the choice whether favor manifests by running your own race or trying
to compete with others for their prize (reward).
Each of us need to be disciplined to run our race not
someone else’s.We will not receive something
from God that is set aside for another person no matter how hard we try or how many
others are in the race.We receive the
prize (rewards and favor) for the race, path, journey that is meant for us
alone.
Look at each translation in understanding the point made
in the scripture:
“Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run
in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete
exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we
an imperishable one.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but
only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians
9:24 NIVUK)
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” (1
Corinthians 9:24 NKJV)
“You know that only one person gets a crown for being in
a race even if many people run. You must run so you will win the crown.” (1
Corinthians 9:24 NLV)
In each race, whatever it is, numerous people run, but
there is only one who can be first to win.God loves what He created you to be, and He made plans for success
through gifting and favor to happen so that you will be first at the “thing” He
had set aside just for you.Specific favor,
gifts, and talents fit you and are there for you to run your race with
endurance so that you will (not may) win.
Remember that, “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as
for the Lord and not for others.” (Colossians 3:23)
… and never forget that you are being cheered on to win:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
Distractions, mishaps, delays, and interruptions may come … they are part of life’s journey (race).God knew they would happen and He is still waiting to carry you through to receiving the prize here on earth and in eternity.
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out
for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus."
Stay focused on who you are by fixing your eyes on Jesus so that one day you will hear Him say, "Well done My good and faithful servant".
Love the life God fashioned just for you
and watch great things will come to pass.
Run your own race knowing with confidence that you are indeed crowned
with favor to finish your race. Step into your gifts and start living a life
you love!
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.
Unless noted, scripture reference in series was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway. ImageCreative Common License if not specified.
Welcome, Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Daily Favor Teaching Blog, Favor, Run Your Own Race, Crown, High Calling, Prize, Run to Win, Certain Favor, Disciplined in Life, Life Journey
I’ve
spent a good part of the week going through things that I need to get rid of,
set aside for later or give away. No it
didn’t involve material things, although I’m still making headway on my
paperwork.
Emotional luggage being unloaded has cleared room for some enjoyment of things that I let
slide merely because I’ve been too busy.It all started with my mapping out my day, or should I say my journey
such as it was.
What
I have come to realize is that I’m tired of not “loving” every part of my life,
and want the journey to be better. So that means I’ve got more to learn in
order for that to happen, and it involves me doing the changing.
No
matter where I look lately, God has been putting these “journey” people in
front of me. Their stories may be interesting, but there were certain things
they had in common and other things that were plain dumb to me.
During
all of this I shared my thoughts with a dear friend,
“My
walk with Jesus is becoming very narrow, putting other things behind to stay
focused on my calling.If Jesus were to
come today would I find I spent time on the journey rather than the
destination?Or is the journey more
important, knowing the destination?
Can
I briefly share some stories with you? I hope so, because this is part
of what God’s put on my heart to share this week.
Welcome new friends this week from:
See if your city/state/country made the list.
New on DFB – Kikinda, Serbia; Blue Hills, Turks and
Caicos Islands;Amman, Amman &
Irbid, Irbid Governorate, Jordan; High Wycombe, England, United Kingdom; Dubai,
United Arab Emirates; Russia; Maseru, Maseru District, Lesotho; Estonia; Nigeria;
Portugal; Palestine; Lesotho.
I am so happy for your visit and hope that you come back
each week to participate in the weekly challenges.God has been faithful and we expect His favor
to abound in the lives of those who chose to Journey with Jesus on
Daily Favor Blog.
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.
“Nothing’s going to stop me. I’m going to go it alone …”
Have you ever said that? I suppose we all have over some
things, but what about life itself?Why
is it that we think we can journey through life untouched by human emotion or
feelings?Are we that bold to think we
have the power to conquer every challenge on our own without the help of a
single soul?
I’d like to share with you some people that I have come
to know or learned about over the years.Each has a true story to tell, but not all stories are what I’d call “a journey
of a lifetime.”
1 - Jessie
Jessie is definitely the adventurous type of character,
and after forty years he’s still game for a road trip.
While in his teens he had
the opportunity of a lifetime to travel the world, well at least a good part of
it.Any boy would delight in this type
of adventure and he was determined not to miss out on it.
He described trail blazing after pleading for permission
from his parents, with the argument of finishing his education early so he
could gain employment in his field.It
worked.After twelve months of careful
planning of every stop and gathering supplies, the trip begin over difficult terrain
by truck and then freighter traveling with companions throughout Asia, Australia,
and the Middle East.
2 - Paul
For years Paul had a burden for souls in Africa. Without
funding or cultural training he blindly set out from America to an unknown land
leaving his established career behind.Although his final destination was planned, by faith he believed
everything else was in the hands of God.
Serving God was difficult, not because of will power, but
an absence of emotional and financial support. It only took a few years before
Paul returned to the states.He believes
he still has a call on his life, but is living in unrest and confusion.
3 - Mark
Mark has been blessed in being able to travel to over 80
countries for business trips and pleasure.His focus is to run a business so that he could visit every nation on
earth without any restraints, being able to come and go as he pleases.
For the past ten years life has been a
carefree dream not having to answer to anyone and doing whatever he wants,
whenever he desires.
Occasionally he has a friend or two along for the trip,
but for the bulk of his experiences he goes at it alone.No chance of getting caught up in
relationships for him that would slow him down.
4 - Greg
He was used to having anything he wanted, never lacking
for provision when he was growing up in corporate America.Through his business travels one of Greg’s trips
was interrupted and landed him in Asia where he met the “least of these Jesus’
of the poor.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
“… Assuredly, I (Jesus)
say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,
you did it to Me.”
Totally changed by what he saw Greg knew God wanted him
to do more. Leaving his well-to-do lifestyle, he and his wife moved to the
slums of Cambodia.They would live
alongside the children to share Jesus through food, spiritual comfort and Christ’s
love.
What Happened Along the Journey?
Not all travels turn out like we plan do they? Circumstances and situations come and go determining how things turn out and which path we end up traveling. Read what I mean.
Since the initial trip many years ago, Jessie's life has taken on one of adventure, but it doesn't involve long distance travel and is full of detours. Somehow he has gotten stuck along the journey and the plans have changed. Unlike his first adventure, most of life is traveled alone.
Paul always felt that his desire to serve the people of
Africa meant he was supposed to physically go there.What he didn’t realize is that his affluent career
allowed him to be a financial support for someone who God did call to serve
overseas.His continual support would be
seeds for the souls that he so wanted to win to the Lord.His journey showed him that he was to stay put
and serve locally by giving into his church, community and ministry outreaches.
Our young traveler Mark really isn’t set on a journey
that is caught up with relationships or add-on’s (extra people baggage).He simply wants to travel when and wherever
he wants, and does so.
There is no goal or final destination, just give him the
opportunity and Mark is on his way to anywhere.In other words, he doesn’t want anyone alongside him at any point along
the road.That would mean he would have
to compromise, listen to and care about the other people that came across his
path.
It’s been over fifteen years now since Greg and his wife
moved.Their obedient travels produced
favor from God and man along their pathway. That favor made way to establish a ministry which
has spread beyond Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Africa.Their work has extended to include local
churches to help young Christians in their walk with Jesus.
Threads Uncommon
Jessie and Paul knew which journey they wanted to take
and did what they could to make it happen. Both knew about their destination
however neither were led by the Holy Spirit.They did what they “felt” was right or a good opportunity.
Paul had the right motive, but didn’t wait for
instruction, unlike Jessie who listened to the adults in his life and his
journey turned out to be a good one for that time.His issues didn’t come until many years later
trying to re-live things of his youth without the aid of Jesus alongside him.
The Bible tells us about the journey Moses took with God
and how he moved as the Spirit led. He too had a specific destination following
the travel route God laid out for the Israelites.He didn’t know how long it would take to get
from point A to B, but trusted in God for everything.
Both Mark and Greg had the financial means to travel.
Both left their homeland for uncharted territory, but only Greg’s was a true
journey with Jesus.Like Abraham he left
all he knew and obeyed God.He moved
throughout the years across land as the Lord directed, not knowing what he
would find at the other end of the road. Obedience opened favor doors for both
Abraham and Greg’s family.His journey
alongside Jesus continues.
Is this a Journey?
As children of God we too are on a journey. Our final destination of Heaven is known, but
the “deets” (details) and itinerary are being revealed piece by piece.This is why traveling with Jesus makes sense.
He knows the entire plan and can take us safely to each port along the way.
Something all the journeyers learned quickly is that they
had to travel light in order to keep up with their schedules.Some had to abandon their belongings, plans
and homeland if it were to be a real adventure with Christ.
They had to trust more, overcome fear and step out to get
on with their journey.There was no
lagging behind.A journey is not like a
quick vacation or trip where you’re away from all you know for short amounts of
time.On a vacation not much is
unknown.You know where you’re going, for
approximately how long, places you want to visit or avoid, where you'll lodge
and the rough cost for such a trip.
Even your clothing is pretty much laid out depending on
the climate during the seasons you travel.The only real surprises may be in unplanned daily activities.If at any time you are unsatisfied you simply
return home.
Although such trips may be fun, could this really be
classified as an adventure journey if you know practically everything in advance?
Trip, Vacation or Journey … Which was it?
From the examples can you tell which ones were more
of a trip than a journey?In all
situations each relied on good relationships, even if some were short lived
(very short in Mark’s case).
Some examples had great support a few didn’t.The first excursion had nothing to do with
faith, but a desire to finish their education quickly. The second sought God
and still is on a journey hoping one day to find answers.
Paul had wavering faith and the lack of solid knowledge
hearing from God for the journey.He
wanted to serve Jesus, but forgot about the relationship for the journey.
Greg
seemed to be the only one of these four that after he met Jesus, he wanted to
stay alongside the Lord for the journey no matter the cost or where it
led.He’s having a glorious time
regardless to what the world would see as “living a life of poverty.”
We are all at various points along our journey; I’ve
traveled a few of them myself. Where are you?Which example fits you the best?
All journeys have some things in common, such as a
willingness to step out to travel and along the travels relationships are bound to
be formed in some way.
In John chapter one Jesus invited the disciples to “follow
me.”They accepted and for 3½ years they
learned, received instructions and stepped out to journey with Jesus leaving
family, business and worries behind. They didn’t know where their journey would
take them, but by faith they took the challenge to journey with Jesus.
From God to Abraham to Jesus to You
As Christians our journey is to be more like our
forefathers (Abraham and Moses) who walked with God, only our road continues
with God’s Son Jesus by our side. The Holy Spirit will keep guiding us as He
did Moses if we let Him.
Although we don’t know all the plans, our destination is
set in Heaven. (Hebrews 11) All we lack are the details as we travel.
It’s true, what God has planned for us requires walking
by faith, not by sight.Our travel plans
are sure to be full of surprises, excitement, hard at times, unpredictable,
stressful, exhilarating, favor rich and by far more challenging than we
planned.
God will indeed place people who we will need at every
point, but this is the best news of all. There is a better relationship to
build. We won’t be traveling alone, but will have Jesus alongside all the way.
We know the destination …
focus on the journey
that prepares us for it.
This Week’s Challenge:
Leave the Itinerary to Jesus
Upon waking each morning I have an idea of what I need to
do and what I’d like to accomplish.With
these things in mind I ask the Lord to direct my steps and that everything I do
is part of His plan for my journey with Christ.
Our challenge this week is to let go of our itinerary and
pick up God’s.
There’s no getting around it; this is where we all have
to begin … in prayer. Go before the Lord and tell God you’re sorry for trying
to make your own way and to forgive you of your sins.
Stop trying to plan your journey.Enjoy each place you are along the way beginning
with today. I’m not telling you to “bloom where you’re planted” kind of
thing.That’s something different.
Instead, start to look at each situation as an
opportunity God has placed before you as part of your journey with Him for that
particular day.
You don’t have the itinerary, so why not “sight see”
literally and by faith.What’s in front
of you right now is what God wants
you to see.It’s all He is revealing at
the moment, so there must be something important you need to learn or do at
this stop in the travel.
Rest, live, love, embrace all around you. It may be the
only time you will see this place (literally and figuratively). Move as the
Holy Spirit moves, don’t get ahead of Him or pick up more baggage (by judging,
rationalizing, developing an “It’s about me attitude”).
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD.
We have to trust God for and with our life on our journey
with Jesus. He won’t force us to do it; after all, it’s our life as a “free
will” agent, but He wants to be there for every step. God wants to make our dreams
a reality, and knows which paths will make it happen.He knows if we have faith for His favor and when
we don’t.
Don’t get ahead of Jesus
thinking you can do it on your own.
It’s no less a journey if we travel it with someone else.
Why not let it be Jesus? God’s faithfulness and favor will provide what is needed
and our travels will be more FAVOR-able!
Where You go I’ll go,
where You stay I’ll stay.
When You move I’ll move,
where you serve I’ll serve.
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” for more
information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Scripture
reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway. Image credit: Google
Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified. Image: Love LifeAdventure World MapWorld TravelerJourney with Jesus Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Hope has decided to visit me while I write.There isn’t any sense continuing until I give
her my undivided attention.
Picking up my cat and pulling her close, as I
stroke her head the purrs get louder.It’s
her way of telling me she’s pleased; well at least I'd like to think that.
Cupping her fuzzy head in my hands, it reminds me that
hope is present …hope Jesus. The event of Christmas may be over, but Emmanuel,
God is always with us.
Welcome new friends this week from:
See if your city/state/country made the list.
New on DFB – Hastings, England, United Kingdom;Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh, India; Lesotho; Namibia; Portugal; Palestine; Botswana; Gibraltar;
Israel; Iraq; Morocco; Turks and Caicos Islands; Estonia.
I am so happy for your visit and hope that you come back
each week to participate in the weekly challenges.God has been faithful and we expect His favor
to abound in the lives of those who chose to Journey with Jesus on Daily Favor Blog.
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.
The holidays are over and people have gone back to their
regular routines for the most part.School busses are buzzing about and all the city activity is in full
swing.
Our holiday seemed a little short lived with our
Christmas tree lasting only twenty hours before one of the rescues decided to
take it for a joy ride to the floor.Hubby shouted for me to “Quick catch it”, but it and the
Christmas Day - tree down!
newest kitty were
already in flight before I could do anything about it.
The entire matter was hilarious to watch, especially as
the other pets scattered as if they knew the “baby” would be in trouble. (I
shared the photos on my Facebook page on December 28th, 2015. Just look for the crashed Christmas tree).
We felt it best to take down the tree when we discovered
the same “Oh she’s so cute” kitty chewed through the light cord on New Year’s
Day (thank the Lord it wasn’t plugged in at the time).
I believe it’s the
shortest time we’ve ever had our tree up for the holidays, but sometimes
changing what you’ve done in the past is a good thing.
Having to put away our tree decorations early shed light
on some of the traditional things I do “just because I’ve always done it that
way.”Oh I wish I didn’t fall into that
category, but I do with certain things.
Not wanting to stay in the rut of tradition in my journey
with Jesus, I began thinking about my life as a sojourner in the world.Up until 2004 I thought I was a great
traveler.
Days on the “road” have really changed over the
years.When I first traveled I carried
loads of luggage, wanting to be prepared for anything. It didn’t matter if it
was a short or long trip; I always carried more than I needed.You know the “just in case … better be
prepared” syndrome that shapes the way we travel. The added pressure of “did I
forget anything” everywhere I went took the joy out of the experience.
It has taken lots of trips in all sorts of circumstances
for me to learn that I no longer need to travel with the burden of heavy luggage.
Learning to let go of some baggage didn’t come easy at first, but over time it
has been a blessing.
New Things
As we begin the New Year there are things I’d like to do
differently.I don’t write down
resolutions, because I think they are setting people up for disappointment if
they don’t work out as planned.
Instead I set short and long term goals that allow for
“life” to happen along the way. I learned how to do this through writing lesson
plans for my classes that had to be submitted to the school authorities.
When my life course changed to teaching special needs
children, it became important to set many types of goals to help them succeed at
various levels.It proved to be more
helpful to me in all aspects of life, not just in the classroom.
If goals aren’t met at the exact time, I keep plugging
away but don’t browbeat myself which invites negative feelings.I developed an attitude of “I’ve never failed
at anything … I’m just not done yet.”
You would be surprised how it changes the way you think
of yourself with this mindset.It sort
of places one in the Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin, George Washington Carver, Marie
Curie, Harriet Tubman or Eleanor Roosevelt category.What fun!
Last year I learned to quilt (semi-learned anyway).This year I’d like to learn basket weaving.
There isn’t any particular reason, just ‘cuz, as they say.
Like my sister who is setting her journey to include at
least ten minutes of vigorous daily exercises, I also have health goals figured
in on my journey travels this year (along with other things).Keeping my focus on “new things”, I began my
first day of the year by cutting my very
long hair for a “new do for a new you” (referring to myself) attitude I
would embrace.
With scissors in his hand I cried like a baby as I heard
the snipping sound of my husband chopping away at my valued asset.One word from me and he wouldn’t have gone
through with it, but alas hubby took it well. (Picture shows after the cut! I held up a blanket so you could see it better.)
Trying to lessen my anxiety he took my now detached13
inch ponytail, stuck it in his nose and then the ear as if they needed major
trimming. His humor distracted me from my sudden loss of brownish locks.It was time to look at things in a new way,
including how I perceived myself through God’s eyes inside and outwardly.
“How frail is humanity!How short is life, how full of trouble! (Job
14:1 NLT)
Last year was a tremendously trying year in laying hold
to what I believed by faith. Hubby undergoing five operations along with being
back and forth from the hospital over fifty times (not counting doctor
appointments and cardio rehab).We were
physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted.Through it all we were incredibly favored by
God and man with blessings, mercy and grace beyond what we could ask or think.
Every time something tried to pull me off my faith walk,
something happened to direct me back to where I could rest in the Lord.That something was a someone - the Holy
Spirit.God also used His children to
encourage, uplift and pray for one another.This is why I am so pleased to be starting a new year with you whom my
husband and I have come to love and cherish.
Hope for the “New” Journey
Sitting here at my kitchen table I’m reminded by my kitty
that hope is by my side for this journey.
There’s a song we sing in church called “Our Hope Is in the Lord.”I rephrase it when I sing it to her, “My Hope is from the Lord, she is a gift from
Jesus Christ.”
It’s true.The gift of hope is to help us stay in faith
as we travel each new road God has set before us.We often don’t recognize what’s happening
right before our eyes.
“Behold, I will
do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?I will even make a road in the wilderness and
rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19 NKJV)
It is not new to Him, it is new to us.
“For I am about to do something new. See, I
have already begun!Do you not see it? I
will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry
wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19 NLT)
We’re getting prepared for another “trip” by faith; one
that will take us into new adventures as a believer.I am so ready to see God do amazing things in
the Body of Christ this year. There is something I have to ask though before we
set out on this quest…
What kind of traveler are you?
Are you the type of traveler where the luggage is weighted
with heavy burdens that should have been left at the foot of the cross? Do past
sins, unforgiveness, guilt, envy and strife cause your suitcases to weigh in as
“additional carry-on baggage?"
Are you tired of collecting these badges along the way and it resulting in excess beyond what you can handle?
Until we learn to travel “light” with Jesus by casting
our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7), we’re going to constantly be detoured away from our life’s
goals.As part of our New Year’s life
plan, we’re going to stay focused on the prize of the High calling (Philippians 3:14).It starts with unloading our emotional
and physical luggage.
All of Me, Nothing Else
“He commanded them
(the disciples) to take nothing for the journey except a staff. No bag, no
bread, no copper in their money belts nor a change of clothes.” (see Mark 6:8 and Luke 9:3)
Jesus told His disciple to take nothing with them on
their journey. You can imagine how flags went up in their thoughts and the
“lack” mentality crept into their thinking. I can hear all the questions that
flew out of their mouths as they tried to rationalize with the Lord about what
He was asking them to do.
Didn’t the Master realize they had expenses and
families?Certainly this was an
unreasonable half-baked idea that couldn’t possibly work to their benefit.Nonetheless, that’s what Jesus commanded.
Already knowing God’s ultimate plan, Jesus really wasn’t
concerned about the material aspect of what they would need, but used it to
prove He would provide and supply for their every need for the road
trips in life. (Philippians 4:19)That
promise hasn’t changed as long as our journey includes God’s plans.
“And He (Jesus)
said to them. When I sent you without money bag, knapsack and sandals, did you
lack anything?So they (the disciples)
said, Nothing.”(Luke 22:35 NKJV)
As time went by, daily events were to take a turn …
Along their journey with Jesus the “game plan” and tides
had changed. Times would be harder, but Jesus needed the disciples to trust Him
like they did when they first followed Him.
By following what the Lord said, it allowed God to give
the disciples all they needed for their journey with Jesus.They learned to trust Him to provide whatever
they needed.I mean come on… Jesus even
used a fish to help pay their taxes! (Matthew 17:27) Now how much more
evidence did they need that God would always be there for whatever they would encounter?
In other words, first hand they became well-educated on how
to travel light with Jesus in confidence and without fear.The disciples discovered how to be travelers
for, of and with Jesus.Obedience made a
way for His favor.
This Week’s Challenge:
Learning to Travel Light
Learning to “travel light” to be a “traveling light” for
Jesus may be a play on words, but it isn’t play when it comes to trusting God
for everything.
As in any trip, one needs to prepare for the
journey.First let’s begin with reading the
third chapter of Hebrews as a base for our route.
There are three main aspects we are to retain
from this passage concerning our travel plans with Jesus.
1 - Jesus was, is and always will be faithful.
2 - We need to be faithful and listen to the Holy Spirit’s
direction.
3 - Learn what happens to those who wander off the path.
For the next few months we’re going to focus on being
better prepared travelers for our journey with Jesus in 2016.
Although we know life comes with trials and tests, we
don’t need to keep piling them into our luggage. Instead, we should be emptying
them out between destination points.
Our challenge this week is to unpack our burdens and
start this part of our journey with nothing, but faith, hope and trust as our
suitcases.Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and My burden (load) is
light.” (Matthew 11:30 NKJV)
Why do you think He made that statement? I believe it’s because Christians have failed
to empty their burdens on the Lord in prayers of confession before Him.We want to question the decisions of God like
the disciples may have done in the beginning of their fellowship with Jesus.
In order to be ready for next week and move forward in
hope, we have to unload, unpack and unleash what we’ve been dragging with us
for years.God promised He will be with
us for the journey while on this earth, never leaving or forsaking us. (Hebrews
13:5)
Spend time focusing on what God has already said in His
word rather than always waiting to “hear” something your spirit wants to hear.
Start out with a new approach like we’ve done in the
past. No more B.A.R. Hopping either. (If you don’t know what that is you’ll
find it here.) It’s time we become earth travelers God can use. Right now take
your first steps of this journey with Jesus on bended knee, at the cross of forgiveness, to help
you become a better and more fit traveler.
Our journey with Jesus isn’t always going to be “Heaven
on Earth.” By stepping out in faith we understand
that there are going to be both good and bad times as scriptures declare. We
cannot escape what God has already said and He will not do anything against
what He has already ordained.
A “feel good” message isn’t what I present on Daily Favor,
but one of “be not dismayed or discouraged, for I (Jesus) have overcome this
world.” (John 16:33)Trusting the Lord has its rewards of new favor and firsts
for all of us that will help us through it all.That is what I truly believe.
It’s a time to get excited!We’re beginning our travels with hope by our
side (I’m not referring to my feline companion) and renewed joy, as we venture
into uncharted territories with the Lord together.
Your journey may include cutting you hair, losing weight,
writing a book or song, joining a ministry, changing jobs, opening a new
business or moving to a foreign country, who knows but God?
This is what I know: God wants our undivided attention. Our journey will involve change, people,
movement, traveling light, staying close by the Lord’s side and include FAVOR
for the end times.
Believing God for new and greater things for my fellow
travelers who take on the Daily Favor challenges, I leave you with a prayer and
blessings of favor as you prepare for this year’s Journey with Jesus.
“Christ be with you always through the precious gifts of
the earth and its fullness, and the favor of God who appeared in the burning
bush before Moses, I declare these blessings to rest on your head as it did
Joseph’s, crowning you royal above others as you obey the call of God on your
life.” (*See below)
Goal #1 – Travel Lighter with Hope Jesus.
Journey with Jesus, He calls you friend.
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, look for new favor to unfold!
“I will show new favor you have never seen!”
Jesus Christ
*My prayer is not to take away or change what God instructed
Moses to do in Deuteronomy 33 as the Blessings of Moses on God’s people before
he left earth, but to encourage, exhort and uplift the Body of Christ in Journey
with Jesus.
*The names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Note: 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.
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” for more
information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.A.N.A. logo by J.C.Penney, Inc.
Scripture
reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Gateway Bible Image credit: GoogleImages or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified. Image: CatExpertBaggage Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
