Morning by Morning, December 14 - The Favor of God is the Presence of God
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You’re welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you’” (Luke 1:26-28).
The favor of God is the Presence of God.
Favor doesn’t mean it always makes sense. Favor doesn’t mean it’s always going to easy. Favor doesn’t even mean that somehow we’ll have immunity from heart-breaking, soul-crushing experiences all along our journey through a broken and fallen world full of broken and fallen people.
Just look at Mary’s life. She was suspected of adultery by her fiancé, rejected at the inn to give birth in a stable, whisked out of her country in the middle of the night to flee from a madman ruling an insane government killing innocent children, watched her son being wrongfully arrested, wickedly beaten, and cruelly nailed to a cross to suffer the most excruciating torture to death known to man.
But through it all, she saw the most amazing miracles. She saw lives changed, hearts healed, and hope restored. She experienced resurrection joy, the coming of the kingdom of God in our midst, and the outpouring the Holy Spirit.
With the favor of God upon her, she lived out her days with the Presence of God all around her -- finding security in her identity and fulfilling her destiny. Your favor was Your Presence for Mary. And Your favor is Your Presence for us.
The favor of God for Mary was prophesied long before Your birth in Bethlehem: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). “They will call Him Immanuel which means ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).
Dear God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- thank You for the favor of Your Presence. Thank You for being with us through all we encounter and endure on our own journeys through this broken and fallen world, where You’re at work in us and all that happens to us. You don’t waste a moment of our sufferings, as You make us more like You and teach us to love like You through it all (Romans 8:29; 1 John 4:17).
You are our Favor. You are our Immanuel -- God with us. For the Favor of God is the Presence of God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you experience the favor of God in the ever-abiding Presence of God with you and all around you through all you go through on your journey, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
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