Surrounded by Favor
When we receive a promotion, meet someone special, or the medical report turns around, we know that's the favor of God. But when we face challenges and things are coming against us, it doesn't seem like we have favor. But having favor doesn't mean you won't have obstacles; favor is what's keeping those challenges from defeating you. Favor is what's keeping that sickness from taking your life, favor is what's stopping your child from ruining his destiny, favor is what protected you in that accident. You may not see it, but you have favor in the storm. The psalmist says, "You surround them with your favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12). His favor is with you in the good times and the tough times.
When the Israelites were escaping slavery in Egypt and headed to the Promised Land, they came to a dead end at the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army closing in behind them. Moses held up his staff, strong east winds began to blow, the waters parted, and those two million people walked through on dry ground. In hindsight, it's easy to see that they had favor. But imagine being there, walking between walls of water and not knowing if at any moment they were going to collapse. It was loud, people were panicking, there was all kinds of commotion. I'm sure the people were afraid for their lives, thinking of everything that could go wrong. It wasn't until they were safely on the other side that they began to rejoice. Then they knew they had favor. But the truth is, they had favor the whole time. They just couldn't see it. Favor is what was holding back the walls of water. Favor is what kept the enemy from catching them.
It's easy to believe we have favor when good things are happening. What I want you to see is that you have favor in the challenge, favor when enemies are chasing you. You may have people and circumstances coming against you now, but God knows how to cause it to backfire. When you look around, you may see walls of water, trouble, opposition, or sickness. It looks frightening. Keep the right perspective. Stay in peace. It cannot defeat you. Right now, favor is pushing back forces of darkness, favor is keeping your enemies from defeating you. As with Moses, you know a secret-you have favor in the storm. You're going to see what God does behind the scenes to bring you safely through it. People who were against you are suddenly going to be for you; problems are about to turn around. Unexpected blessings are coming your way: increase, promotion, breakthroughs, healing, vindication, and the fullness of your destiny.
When the Israelites were escaping slavery in Egypt and headed to the Promised Land, they came to a dead end at the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army closing in behind them. Moses held up his staff, strong east winds began to blow, the waters parted, and those two million people walked through on dry ground. In hindsight, it's easy to see that they had favor. But imagine being there, walking between walls of water and not knowing if at any moment they were going to collapse. It was loud, people were panicking, there was all kinds of commotion. I'm sure the people were afraid for their lives, thinking of everything that could go wrong. It wasn't until they were safely on the other side that they began to rejoice. Then they knew they had favor. But the truth is, they had favor the whole time. They just couldn't see it. Favor is what was holding back the walls of water. Favor is what kept the enemy from catching them.
It's easy to believe we have favor when good things are happening. What I want you to see is that you have favor in the challenge, favor when enemies are chasing you. You may have people and circumstances coming against you now, but God knows how to cause it to backfire. When you look around, you may see walls of water, trouble, opposition, or sickness. It looks frightening. Keep the right perspective. Stay in peace. It cannot defeat you. Right now, favor is pushing back forces of darkness, favor is keeping your enemies from defeating you. As with Moses, you know a secret-you have favor in the storm. You're going to see what God does behind the scenes to bring you safely through it. People who were against you are suddenly going to be for you; problems are about to turn around. Unexpected blessings are coming your way: increase, promotion, breakthroughs, healing, vindication, and the fullness of your destiny.