The Favor of God

The Favor of God:

Favor can be defined as "the friendly disposition from which acts proceed to assist , to provide with special advantages, to receive preferential treatment."  This is God's heart towards us.   In Jeremiah 29:11 it says, "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of affliction to give you an end and patience."  In Isaiah 43:19 it says, "Behold I do new things and now they shall spring forth, verily, you shall know them.  I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

I believe this favor is available to us.  Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, "It shall be done to you according to your faith.  In Isaiah 66:2 it says, "These are the ones I look on with favor:  those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."  In Romans 8:32 we are told "Since He did not spare even His own Son for us , but gave Him up for us all, won't He also surely give us everything else."

I believe that God longs to give us his favor.  He wants to help us and make a way for us, because he loves us so much.  We need to believe that God's favor is before us.  We need to live in expectation of God's special provision and promotion. We should arise each morning excited to see what special thing God will do for us that day.  He can cause us to receive special treatment, unbelievable breaks, one blessing after another.  The favor of God can defy the wisdom of man.   We need to acknowledge that these things are not luck, but the favor of God.

Another thing I think we need to do is speak the favor of God over our lives.   Here are some biblical affirmations with the scriptures they are based on that speak favor :

• God surrounds and protects me with favor like a shield.  (Psalms 5:12)
• The Lord is a sun and shield.  He bestows favor and honor, and no good thing does he withhold from me.  (Psalms 84:11)
• I actively live by God's wisdom, therefore I am highly favored and esteemed in the sight of God and men.  (Proverbs 3:1 - 3; Proverbs 8:33 - 35)
• God's favor brings promotion and causes me to increase daily.  (Esther 2:17; Psalms 75:67
• My enemies cannot triumph over me because God has favored me.  (Psalms 41:11

So, as Joel Osteen says, " Keep God first in your life,  He'll take you places you you haven't even dreamed of!"

God love you !

Be Not Afraid

Be Not Afraid:

The bible tells us, "Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9.  In another place it says, "Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  Deuteronomy 31:6.    So, why do we have fear?

Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately a change in behavior; such as running away, hiding or freezing.  Fear may occur in response to a specific stimulus happening in the present or to a future situation which is perceived as a risk to health or life, status, power, security, wealth or anything held valuable.  Fear is modulated by the process of cognition and learning.   Motivational speaker and writer Earl Nightengale calls fear:  False Education Appearing Real.  People develop specific fears as a result of learning. 

Fear is judged as rational or appropriate or irrational or inappropriate also called a phobia.  Anxiety is slightly different from fear  and results from threats which are perceived as uncontrollable or unavoidable.  Book author Bill Trancer by analysing the most frequent queries online containing the phrase "fear of......" published a list of the top ten fears in 2008:

• Flying
• Heights
• Clowns
• Intimacy
• Death
• Rejection
• People 
• Snakes
• Failure
• Driving  

After a situation inciting fear occurs the amygdala and hippocampus, two parts of the brain,  record the event and initiate the fear reaction.   A drug treatment for fear conditioning and phobias via the amygdala is the use of glucocorticoids  which disrupt the amygdala response.  This is a drug treatment.  Then there is cognitive behavior therapy which can help people overcome fear.  An active and successful approach involves people repeatedly confronting their fears in a safe manner.  By doing this a person is able to suppress the fear triggering memory or stimulus.  Known as "exposure therapy", it is claimed this practice can help cure up to 90% of people with specific phobias.  

As people of faith we have a most powerful resource to help face and overcome our fears and anxieties.  It is our belief in God's loving care for us, and His word revealed in the bible.   Here are a few verses to keep in your heart:

• The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom, shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of  my life; Of who shall I be afraid?   Psalm 27: 1
• Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.   Proverbs 3: 5-7
• For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.  2Timothy 1:7
• Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God.   Philippians 4: 6
• I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.   Philippians 4: 13

Pray to God for stronger faith that you might draw strength from his Word and be able to face and overcome your fears.

God love you!