Loving the Me God Sees

Forming relationships is one of the hardest things we do throughout our entire lives.  Relationship building holds especially true if we are to journey with Jesus in order to accomplish all God has planned for us. We have to start doing things His way and loving ourselves is part of it. 

To truly be walking with Jesus on our life journey, we have to be in agreement with Him.  The book of Amos in the Old Testament really brings this to the forefront concerning the behavior of a believer.  I really like how this is said. 

“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? (Amos 3:3 NLT)

Most people think this verse is referring to a relationship with friends, relatives and so forth, which is correct ... in part.  This passage is referring to our relationship with God and being in agreement, alignment and purpose with Him including how He feels about us.

If one person loves and the other one only does so based on the situation, the whole “it takes two” thing is unbalanced.  There is no moving forward along the journey, because someone has forgotten that grace and favor are part of loving others and ourselves.  

People often say when they are not in agreement or moving in the same direction that they are not on the "same page".   When we are not on the "same page" as Jesus, He cannot agree with us, therefore whatever we are believing for is not going to happen.

Jesus repeated: "Again, I truly tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven." (Matthew 18:19 NIV)

Let's dig deeper into how important this is.

"And I tell you once more that if two of you on earth agree in asking for anything it will be granted to you by My Heavenly Father.  For wherever two or three people come together in My name, I am there, right among you."

(Matthew 18:19-21 Phillips New Testament)

You can be sure Jesus has not broken the agreement.  So if it is not God or someone else, who do you think has missed walking in agreement? 

Loving the Me God Sees 

I realize that it’s difficult for us to really see ourselves like God sees us. Nonetheless, we have to try.  No, that’s not right … we have to do it. 

In the coming weeks people will be sharing special times letting one another know how much they are loved.  When this message is conveyed to you, I want you to do something.  

Every time you hear or say "I love you" say the same thing to yourself!  Put aside how you look and feel about who you are, and start accepting the individual God created on purpose - you!  

He knows exactly how you look and He loves what you look like regardless if you do not.  He designed you and likes what He made. You are perfectly designed for His pleasure and glory.  Declare as the psalmist did:

"I praise You (God) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  (Psalm 139:14 NIV)

When Christ walked this earth scriptures tell us that He knew His purpose by fellowshipping with His Heavenly Father daily.  As a result of being in agreement with God, He increased in every area of His earthly life.

"Jesus grew (increased) in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people." 

Luke 2:52 NLT

If you want to grow in favor with God, grow in faith by getting on the same page as Him.  That does not mean you have to like everything about yourself, but love yourself enough to forgive what God has already forgiven.

Start walking in the same direction as God and learn to unconditionally love yourself.  Get into agreement with Him so you can walk in favor with everything else in your life.

Start believing and saying out loud "Somebody loves me, and that somebody is me!"

It’s not a sin to love yourself, but is actually a sin not to love what God said was made “good.”  As a child of God, grace and favor allows Jesus to partner with us for our journey in life.  

My husband and I really love you, and care about how you are progressing on your journey with Jesus.  It is our desire that you come to think of yourself as beautifully and wonderfully made by the Master, created for good works and to love the life you have been given. 

"God has made us what we are.  

In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things He had already planned for us to do."  

(Ephesians 2:10 EVR)

From this point on, start "loving the me (you) God sees!  Whenever you hear or say “I love you” to someone else, make this statement.  When you stand in front of a mirror repeat it over and over until it sinks into your spirit and becomes a part of your thinking: 

Somebody loves me,

 and that somebody is me! 

“It would be a lonely life if no one ever said I love you, and knowing that God loves us is wonderful.  But it is so good when God loves us through other people.”

 - Aaron Wilburn

Somebody Loves Me - The Gaither Homecoming

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, favored blessings

“I favor you because I love you.”

Jesus Christ 

More Spiritual Enrichment:

“But God, I Don’t Love Me!"

Key to Fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commandment

By Paul F. Allen

Also available in eBook format.

Fay aka Favored1 on Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest.  

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.   Image

Note: If used, names in articles are changed to protect individual(s) privacy.

Note: 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.

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.  Image Creative Common License if not specified.  

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Believe that You Are Special

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.

Fay aka Favored1 on Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest and Articles.  

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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Love One Another

Happy Valentine's Day Favored Friends!  Have a God blessed day!

"Love one another as I have loved you." John 13:34

                                      Until next time, favored blessings!

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

Fay aka Favored1 on Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest and Articles. 

 

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. 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.  Image Creative Common License if not specified.  Image Fay Ann Daniels

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God Loves You

God loves you.
He always has and always will.  
Believe Him by faith and receive His gift of mercy (unmerited favor) through salvation.

Teachings on "The Love of God" by Fay        Prayer of Salvation

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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. Do not copy.  

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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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Live in Love

Welcome to Daily Favor where 

"faith and favor meet." 

Every child of God experiences the goodness of the Lord.  Some refer to it as blessings, but in reality it's His Daily Favor and that's why I created this website.

Spend quality time learning and studying about the favor of God.  Check out the current trending favored article(s) on the right, or the top interests of fellow believers under the most popular read posts.  Subject, musical artists or author word searches are listed at the bottom of this site.

Use the Bible study topics from the topical word search for small group or individual spiritual growth.

Browse through the hundreds of articles and read more about how you too can live in the Favor of God.  (Click here: Tell Me)

Follow Fay on social media or her other blogs, and share these articles of faith with someone today!

Until next time, Favored Blessings

Latest News from Fay   

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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. Do not copy.  

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Spring Favor

For the past few nights my husband and I have spent long hours in conversation.  I asked him about how his week has been going and where did he see the favor of God working. 

One of the reasons I was trying to pull something out of him was because my week has been rather uneventful with not leaving the house.  With the weather turning cold again and not having central heating, someone has to stay home to tend to the heaters … so other than with hubby and the pets it didn’t leave much fellowshipping.  After posing the question about God's favor he didn't have much to say. 

When I got up on Thursday (April 14^th, 2016) my husband was excited about having a list of things to share with me after spending time with Jesus on his journey.  With that in mind I invited him to be the first guest writer on Daily Favor.  Please make him welcome by sharing his post.  Thanks in advance!

Welcome new friends this week from:

See if your city/state/country made the list. 

New on DFB – Barbados; Denmark; Finland; Ukraine; Vanuatu; Russia; India; Mexico; Romania; Australia; Bangladesh; Switzerland; China; Germany; Spain; Cambodia; Philippines; United Kingdom; Kenya. 

USA – Hickory & Randleman, NC; Gerry, NY; Linglestown, PA; San Leanna, TX, Strasburg, VA. 

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.  

Don't miss out on this week's challenge (below).

Read Messages, updates on Hubby’s Heart and visit the Q & A or other sections. 

When a Man Loves a Woman

It’s the time of year when people feel they are about to burst if they don’t get outdoors and do something, especially Fay.  Some refer to it as “spring fever”, but my wife calls it “spring favor”… a time where we can really see the goodness of God in the land of the living.

We had a rather lengthy conversation, laughed a lot and then my wife threw in the hook by asking me about my week.  I should have seen it coming, but played right into her sweet smile.

She always does this right at bedtime.  I’m zonked and ready to go to sleep but she wants to talk … not easy conversations either … deep philosophical ones that make you have to think.

“How and where have I seen God’s favor this week?”  Really honey, at 3 a.m.? Guys don’t talk about that stuff, everybody knows that.  We go, we do, come back home, eat, take naps and sleep.  Seriously ladies, our lives aren’t that deep.

Understanding the teacher part of my wife, I knew she would expect some sort of an answer in the morning.  Seems we never escape the classroom no matter what our age.

That night (Wednesday) I prayed for my wife and her work on this week’s Daily Favor Blog, asking the Lord what He would have me share with her that would help along this journey. 

The Favor of Spring Time

Thursday morning I was like a proud kid waiting to show the teacher his homework.  I had written down a list of things that demonstrated how God’s favor was working.  “Lovey” didn’t even have her breakfast yet and was already writing on the chalkboard of my brain.  If Fay looked closer she would have noticed it was a dry erase board!

A clue for those of you who aren’t familiar with the life of a teacher, their goal isn’t to give you the answers, but to draw them out of you.  FYI – I don’t like drawing!

Once my wife listened to my list she had more questions for me to consider and so my assignment wasn’t quite finished.  This time she directed my focus to whether or not “spring” was favor, natural law or both.

Was she messing with my head? I began to wonder whether or not I was grasping the concept of favor at all. While I was taking out the trash and doing some chores, I saw “spring” in a new light.

Many of us view the changes of seasons as the favor of God; in some ways it is.  However these things occur because of the natural law that God put in motion way back in the Garden of Eden. (See Genesis chapters 1-2)

Flowering Vinca Vine

Because of the promises of God concerning sowing and reaping we are able to sow seeds in the soil and depending upon the seed sown, get flowers, plants or vegetables. 

Plus, according to 2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV, God will “multiply the seed you have sown”.  We see this all around us every day.

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV)

It’s not like I didn’t know these things happen, but that I stopped to see how God was at work showing favor even when we don’t see it as such.  For instance, take a look at perennial plants.  We usually only have to plant them once, and because of the law of nature they come up every year.  

Hosta Plant 4/14/16

Let’s take it farther and consider another aspect like my wife suggested.  This is where I saw more than a few plants and shrubbery growing in and around our yard.

God’s favor was on the hands that initially did the work so that the beauty of the Lord could be established.  The wonder of how these things continue to grow is amazing in itself don’t you think?

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17 NKJV)

Our hostas, daffodils and vinca vine not only come up yearly, but multiply so much that they have to be divided.  One plant turns into dozens of new plantings.  The initial plants were given to us; we’ve been able to sow to others from seed that wasn’t ours extending the blessing.

Bird nest in walnut tree.

 

Leaving the house I noticed that a dove had built its nest in the lowest branches of the walnut tree in our front yard.  We weren’t surprised by the inactivity of birds or squirrels at the feeding station, but believed the spring babies have arrived.  Growth is taking place all around us and with it comes new life in abundance.

The trees we now enjoy were once seedling plants. Years later we are reaping the benefits of the shade, beauty and delicious walnuts that someone else labored to provide.  Call it natural law, favor or both.  As for me, anything I didn’t have to dig a hole for sure is favor.

So to answer my wife’s question on how have I seen the favor of God in operation around me this week, all I need do is go to her place of rest and say:

“Honey, look out the kitchen window.  Who do you see working?”

This Week’s Challenge:

Love God’s Spring Favor 

Every spring we are reminded of the bounty that is in the earth with each bud, blade of grass or blossom that emerges. 

Watching nature bloom and change is something that we enjoy because of the grace of God.  He allows us to reap the benefits of such beauty whether or not we deserve it, simply because of His mercy (unmerited favor).  Read Psalm 104 and see.

Our challenge this week may not seem that impressive or challenging for that matter, but is something we all need to take seriously.  Simply said, when you go outside grow in grace and knowledge by thanking God for what you are seeing.  In other words, go hug a tree!

“But grow in grace (chen – favor), and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV)

A friend of ours who is VERY thankful for spring favor!

 

Whether it is an open sky in the desert, lush gardens in a valley or plain grassy areas, no matter what the “outdoors” looks like … give God praise for the spring favor we enjoy through His natural law on the earth.  May favor spring forth and multiply as knowledge of our Creator increases.

 “Grow in the loving-favor that Christ gives you.  Learn to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. He is the One Who saves.  May He have all the shining greatness now and forever. Let it be so. (2 Peter 3:18 NLV)

Hubby’s “videos” of the week:

(He picked a poem about trees!)

"Trees" by Alfred Joyce Kilmer (Lyric) 

"Trees" Joyce Kilmer Poem Reading

 

BTW - Hug a Tree Day happens to be April 15th, but some celebrate it at other dates also!

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, grow in the grace (favor) of God! 

“My favor was sown from the beginning.”

Jesus Christ 

Notes: “Trees” American poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer Wikipedia written in February 1913.

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

Note: 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 product or link.

It couldn’t be a book because that would require cutting down a tree! 

 

Grow in Grace (Favor) Tree Garden Figurine

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18

Indoor or Outdoor Resin 7.5” Figurine

 

  

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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.

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“Trees” Written by American poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer in February 1913.

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