How To Receive More Of God's Favor
Posted: Sunday, July 05, 2009
by Michael A. Verdicchio
CIG
I was teaching recently and asked the audience who they thought really deserved God's favor. I then told them to take a piece of paper sometime, and write down a list of people that they thought really ought to receive favor from God.
"If your name is not on that list," I said, "Well, why not?" "Why do you think that you really shouldn't receive favor from God?" "Is it because of what you have done, or is it because of what you haven't done?"
If you are a fan of the Bible and you have read from the New Testament, then you have undoubtedly read many, many promises; promises of health, prosperity, all your needs being met, help, and deliverance. None of those promises come with stipulations, do they? Are there certain rules and restrictions? Of course not.
Those promises are God's offer of His grace and favor. He has freely extended His grace and favor. We, on the other hand, so many times, object to His good favor. Object? Yes. How?
We really would love to receive what God has promised, but something inside of us is saying, "You don't deserve it. You are not good enough. You haven't prayed long enough. You haven't done this; but you have done a lot of that."
In other words, our feelings of unworthiness cause us to object to or reject the kind favor He is extending to us. Instead of having arms out and palms up ready to receive His blessings, we push the blessings away. We do this because we do not feel worthy.
Have you ever offered something to someone and they responded by saying, "No thank you, I don't want to impose?" For example, inviting someone to dinner, who was indeed hungry, only to have them say that they didn't want to impose upon your kind hospitality. They objected because of how they feel about themselves. They not only feel unworthy, but they also feel like they have not really earned a spot at your table.
When it comes to God's favor and His grace and blessings, it has nothing to do with earning it. It has nothing to do with being worthy of it. It has nothing to do with earning it.
His grace and favor have been extended to us. He is the One who made the promises. He is the One who will keep His word. He is the One who has extended Himself to us, regardless of our response.
No, you cannot earn His favor. Neither can I. No, you do not deserve His favor. Neither do I. But it has been extended to us. We can accept it or reject it.
The first key in receiving more of God's favor in your life is to accept and believe who God says that you are. As a Christian, the Bible says that you are not only saved, but that you have been made righteous. That simply means you are now right in His sight; you belong.
So, do you feel righteous? Do you feel all right to be in His presence? Or, do you feel ashamed and unworthy? Do you feel guilty and condemned?
If you feel guilty and condemned or ashamed and unworthy, then just ask for forgiveness. He will forgive you. The Bible says that if our heart doesn't condemn us, then we will have confidence toward God.
The second key in receiving more of God's favor is to simply expect it; anticipate it. Believe you are who the Bible says that you are. Stay convinced of God's love for you. The Scriptures tell us that nothing can separate us from God's love.
Anticipate, look for and expect God's favor in your life and on your life. And if you write down a list of people who you think really, really ought to receive God's favor, make sure your name is at the top of the list.
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Michael A. Verdicchio offers a FREE special report, "9 Keys to Answered Prayer!" for signing up to his weekly news letter, "The Pep Letter," at http://www.ConfidenceAndJoy.com He also offers a FREE 71 page eBook, entitled, "Keys To Enriching Your Life Now!" at http://www.EnrichingYourLifeNow.com Michael is a husband, father, minister, author, and broadcaster. He has been the voice on numerous projects and productions including Mike's Pep Talks!
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Wow, this is so far off. First, all the promises are conditional. Second you can earn merit "Study to show thyself approved unto G-d". If you don't study, you are not approved of. If you're not keeping G-d's commandments you don't even love Him "If you love Me keep My commandments". This free willy, nilly, easy, greasy grace is un-Scriptural and exactly what Paul was speaking against when he said "should I sin more that grace abound? G-d forbid!".There are things that can separate us from His love. We can turn our backs on Him, we can take the mark of the beast and we even see that Esau "sought repentance and found it not". So you're wrong on so many levels here even though it is common Church teaching. Do yourself and your readers a favor and stop teaching pagan doctrine.Rabbi StanleyWow! I assume you are not a Christian Jew.Your assumption is incorrect.Rev. Dr. PeteRabbi Stanley is absolutely theologically correct. As I read the article it was uplifting but theologically misleading. As a Pastor I cannot allow wrong teaching to stand. God's 644 promises does come with Stipulations. In the Old Testament you had to be the chosen; inthe New Testament you have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Your discussion about feeling worthy. We all fall short in the sight of God, only His grace and mercy allows us the opportunity each day to serve Him and Love Him more fully. You are mixing unmerited grace with favor. If we didn't feel unrighteous, ashamed or unworthy than we would suffer from pridefulness which is the # one thing God hates. Therefore I don't think that I will become a member of Micheal A. Verdicchio"s fan club I'm already in JESUS's Club. Remember God holds His servants accountable for the sins of those we mislead. You are in my prayers.
Came across this in doing a study on the favor of God. The NT verses speaking of favor tend to be translated favor/grace. Obviously, no one can earn grace. Our salvation is a free gift. In the OT we see the word "hen" translated as favor. It speaks of friendly regard, approval and I'm sure more. One can see that this is something which can be influenced. It's a big topic. I'm still digging. This much I know; my salvation is secure and I want to live in God's favor as well.While we are speaking of this, let's support one another. The world will know who we are by our love.Found in His LoveI like what u said..... i just looked up the definition and saw that as well....i just got out of a service of a church i left recently because of the overall idea that u earn gods favor ....mainly thru tithe they say...the guy speaking actually said not to pray for favor if your not titheing.....they believe the favor and blessing gets put on ur life by the tithe and offerings above and beyond that.....i dissagree with that and im continuing to digg for more on this as well
Please can you send to me the teaching about 9 keys to prayer answer.
Pastor William.
I understand that Gods promises require a love relationship between us and God and we have to follow His commands that are now written on our heart. Rom 8:38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because Jesus was an acceptable sacrifice for my sins, if He is accepted than so am I and there is nothing I can do to earn His love or receive forgiveness other than falling at His feet and accepting His forgiveness. We are accepted in the Beloved (Jesus). I appreciate your passion for God and understand the greasy grace statement because of so many looking to get away with as little relationship with Jesus as possible and still reap the benefits of a loving and God fearing son. I know the thief on the cross didn't tithe or keep God's commandments and Jesus still said out of love "today you will be with Me in paradise"
HE LOVES US ALL AGAINST ALL ODDS,PLEASING /OBEYING GODS WORDS MAKS ONE FREER.TITHEING IS JUST PORTION OF THE BIBLE AND NO PESN CAN BOAST OF AL D LAWS.AM LOVED SIMPLE AND DATS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR MY BLESN.
The free gift of God offends the mind. The blood of Jesus has washed away all of our sins. You can try to be good enough all you want. I am accepting the free gift of God. There is no misleading going on! Gods favor is for all who accept Jesus. The religious try to earn it. The faithful accept and know that the work of God is this, to believe in the One, He sent, Jesus. Ha ha its great news!!!
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