re: Power of Prayer >No Matter Which Faith YouFollow=GOD is With You
Finding Our Life in God
Gary Wilkerson
We hear a lot about the favor of God these days, which is a good thing. Without the favor of the Lord, we would not be able to breathe, stand or find true life anywhere. Our loving, compassionate God looks to bless us with his amazing favor.
Sadly, today the teaching of God’s favor is being twisted by some. They use it as a means to gain material, physical and emotional blessings from God. That’s tragic — because it reduces the Lord to just another American commodity. They tell you to invest a little church attendance here, sow a bit of financial seed there, claim the power of your tongue to confess your way into the life you dream of, and — bingo! — you are favored.
But that is not God’s way. He cares for us much more than that. If we get everything we dream of, that’s not favor, that’s lust. True favor is not found in the blessing itself, it’s found in the One who does the blessing — our loving heavenly Father. Seeking him, not things, is the hunger that dwells in the core of every human heart. We were made to find our life in him.
God is jealous, in a righteous way: He will not allow himself to be used as a means of fulfilling our lusts and self-gain. He will destroy all the idols we set up in our hearts so that he alone stands as our greatest desire.
This doesn’t mean we should not want to see God’s blessings flow in our lives. Out of his loving grace and kindness, our Father delights to give good gifts to his children. Some leaders have twisted biblical doctrines in the so-called prosperity movement but that does not mean the idea of God’s favor should be thrown out. Rather, it should be rescued!
God loves to bless us because he is amazingly good. I encourage you to seek him first and watch how he pours out his favor on you. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
__________________
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
|