Friends, it's time to get 'favor-minded'
According to God's word, his favor surrounds us like a shield.
Wow, that is an awesome thought.
You ought to write Psalm 5:12 on an index card and tape it to your refrigerator.
I did!
"For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."
God didn't put anything in the book he didn't want us to take to heart, and I really feel 90 percent of the problems we blame on the devil would be eliminated if we just started disciplining ourselves to view our circumstances through the eyes of God.
As Christians, I know we all believe God's word. But ask yourself this question: If the Living God, creator of everything seen and unseen has supernaturally surrounded you with his favor and provision, why are you worried about the light bill?
Nine times out of ten, we are fretting and worrying because we have chosen to believe the enemy's assessment of our situation instead of God's.
When our minds start believing the enemy's lies, we need to remind ourselves of what God says about us. Doubt and unbelief may cause you to feel that you are not good enough, or qualified enough, or attractive enough.
Tell the enemy, outloud, that according to God's word you were wonderfully and fearfully made and you are well able to do exactly what God has called you to do. When the enemy lies to you and tells you you'll never get married, you declare to him that your God will withold no good thing when you walk uprightly.
When the money is running low in the checking account and rent is due, throw your hands up toward the sky and thank the Creator of everything that he supplies all of your needs according to his riches in glory.
It is this type of faith and expectancy that activates God's promises and provision in your life. Concentrate on becoming favor-minded. In every situation and in every circumstance, realize his desires for you are to prosper you and not to harm you (Jer. 29:14).
In every circumstance or trial you face:
1. You must admit that God is fully able to meet your need.
2. Find promises in his word that directly relate to your need and clearly illustrate that he wants to meet that need.
3. Declare, outloud, his promise so he, the enemy, and you can hear it. Repeat it every time doubt or fear try to raise their ugly head again.
4. Pray and wait on him.
Folks, when we combine prayer with a new commitment to saturating our mind with his word, we are conducting spiritual warfare.
In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul writes that "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
It is very interesting that his next sentence deals with cleaning up our thought life.
He admonishes us to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Every thought that disagrees with God's assessment of your situation should be met instantly with a promise from his word.
If you are disciplined and make this a habit, you will continually walk in a process of renewing your mind with God's word.
Once you begin to get your thinking in line with his thinking, you will see the doors supernaturally fly open around you and you'll walk in the favor of God like never before.
Now, it is extremely important for you to keep in mind that you have an active role in seeing God's goodness come to pass in your life. If you eat junk food three times a day, your body is going to deteriorate. You can quote Isaiah 53:5 until you are blue in the face. If you are not taking the proper steps to take care of your body, you are not doing your part.
God gave you wisdom. Use it. Don't expect God to make a miraculous deposit in your bank account and dig you out of a hole when you haven't been faithful in giving and you've wasted your money on other things.
This message is for those who are faithfully walking after Jesus, putting him first place in every area of their lives.
If that is you, he shields you with his favor. His blessings are chasing you down! You are blessed coming in and blessed going out! By his stripes you were healed! Get all this in your spirit...if God is for you, who can be against you?
Like the blind men in Matthew 9, your need will be met "according to your faith." Are you believing for a touch from God to heal your body, or are you afraid your situation might get worse?
Do you know in your heart he plans to bring a healthy love relationship into your life, or are you worried that this one will be a painful failure like the rest?
Are you convinced your business will explode so you can provide an abundant life for your family and seed for God's kingdom, or are you a little concerned the economy is going to take another downturn?
Are you trusting him to bring the unsaved members of your family into his kingdom, or are your convinced some of them are too far gone?
Today, I encourage you to begin reprograming your mind with the promises of God. You are highly favored by the creator of the universe. He has wonderful plans for your life.
Don't take my word for it! Get into his word. Read what he says about your situation...
Then, believe it!
About the Author
John Tyler is a Houston-based writer and public relations professional who publishes an online column on Christian living. Be Transformed! Vist http://www.JohnTylerMinistries.com