What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

What is favor?  It is to be given approval or preference.  

Too often, we second guess ourselves because of previous experiences or negative feedback from others. Fear is another thing that can hinder progression towards something God desires to move you into.  We must understand, when God gives a directive of something that needs to be done in our lives so that He can move us into position for greater things in Him, obstacles will be formed by the enemy in order to delay or stop your progress.  When fighting against opposition we must realize the power that resides on the inside of us is far greater than any attack…any hindrance…any obstacle.

When we answered the call of God and received His spirit and are lead by His spirit we obtain favor because of the obedience that follows submission to Gods commandments.

If God is propelling you into greatness and abundance….you are covered as a shield acts as a cover of protection.  The opposition will come but it will not over take you because of the righteousness of Christ that you have obtained through salvation.  The righteousness of Christ will keep you.  That is why we obey Gods commandments…the spirit of Christ dwells on the inside of us…ministering to us…showing us right from wrong…leading us…instructing us…being the light to our path.

Psalms 90:17 tells us, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!”

You will be established….whether it be in business…whether it be in ministry…whether it be in teaching…no matter the position, it will be established because of Gods favor on your life.

One of my favorite scriptures that I speak over my sons is Proverbs 3:1-4 which tells us “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

As parents we all want our children to be successful and life a long healthy life.  How can we have such an expectation if we don’t develop the right foundational teachings in their youth?  How will they understand the open doors that lay in waiting for them because of the favor that rests upon them?  This is favor not just in the heavenlies but here on earth as well!  It says they will have favor in the sight of God and man!!!  I often sit before the Lord in awe of the children He has blessed me with.  I once was an individual that was selfish and thought life was all about me.  All I wanted to achieve in life was financial success so I can have homes on various continents and enjoy my single life…ha-ha!  I had no clue about the joy children could bring into my life.  My children honor me as a queen.  Many of the childhood growing pains some families experience I did not walk through.  Was my parenting different from most other families?  I would say no.  My experiences in rearing these wonderful boys was truly favor from God.  It warms my heart to run into individuals that know my children and receive awesome compliments regarding their mannerisms.  To watch them excel academically…to see that everything they place their hands to is blessed just as the scripture tells us…to see everywhere the soles of their feet tread upon is blessed just as the scripture tells us…..It touches me in such a way because I am living in and experiencing the promises of God daily!!!  Now my children aren’t perfect by any means…just as I am not perfect.  But I teach them to strive for perfection as I strive to attain perfection in all things.  I teach them to live for God…to acknowledge Him in everything they do…their sports teams excel because they have taught their team-mates how to pray before and after games.  Do they win all the games…no…but they have learned to encourage their team-mates they way Jesus would have encouraged His disciples.  They show their peers how to life a life above reproach…no matter the circumstance.  To never hang their heads low but to know who and who’s they belong and that they are always to walk as men of victory.

We adults can mentor and instruct young children to be all they can be but struggle in applying the same theology in our own lives.  Why?  Do we truly believe what we teach?  What if we stepped into the mind of a child for a brief minute?  A child holds on to our every word as truth don’t, they?  So, if we give them the Word of God and tell them to read it, study it, meditate on it and be still and allow the spirit of the Lord to provide the instruction and application…guess what…they do it.  No complications…no confusion.  They grasp the Word of God so quickly and easily.  Why?  Because they trust you and if you tell them this is what is good for them so that they may walk in the fulfillment of Proverbs 3.  They believe it!  They haven’t been tainted by the things we have experienced which we tend to focus on rather than the truth found in the Word of God, which says to just trust and believe.  But we can get that trust back…we can hope again…we can believe God for the big things!

Psalms 112:6-7 tells us, “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”

With God for you….WHO can stand against you?  Who can hinder your dreams?  Who can quench the flame that burns on the inside of you for more and more of God?  You are favored of the Lord!  Press towards the goal!  Don’t ever give up!  Remember…Greater is He that is within you than he that is within the world!!

Meditation verse – Colossians 1:9-12 “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Blessings!!

Keishana