PRAISES AND FAVOR

MEMORY VERSE: Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judg 13, Acts 17, Jer 26, Mark 12

What is favor? Favor is simply receiving what you do not deserve. If a fellow who is not qualified for promotion gets promoted, we say such fellow has been favored. One of the ways to attract God’s favor is through praises. The world is full of complainers – people who are always reminding God of what He is yet to do in their life. Oh Lord you have not done this or that. Oh Lord you are yet to give me a life partner; you are yet to buy me a house; you are yet to buy me a car e.t.c. There are others who challenge God. Oh Lord, why was I not shortlisted for the interview? Oh Lord why am I facing these challenges? Oh Lord why am I broke e.t.c. Before you go and complain to God, ask yourself when was the last time you sat down to thank God for the gift of life, at the end of the day only the living has challenges and face difficulties. When was the last time you thanked God for the salvation of your soul? Someone died in your place, don’t you think you need to tell Him thank you daily?

Once in a while when God hears people praising Him on earth, He becomes happy. When people praise Him, He personally visits them and deal with anything that requires His attention in their life. This was the exact thing that happened when Paul and Silas were praising God in prison (Acts 16:25-34). When God heard them praising Him, He decided to personally pay them a visit. As He took the first step, the earth shook a little because of His weight. He took the second step and the earth quaked, by the time He took the third step the foundations of the prison were so shaken that the doors flung open and every one’s bands were loosed.

Acts 2:47 says praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Praises attract favor from God. The last person you would expect God to anoint and his cup would run over was David. The boy did not merit it in anyway because he was a product of adultery. No wonder he said behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5). Bible scholars told us that he was an embarrassment to the father. The old man messed up with a woman and the product of the affair was David. So whenever the family was around they would keep David away because he represents shame. While in the forest, David began to praise God. He said it is true no one wants to see me but I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth, Psalm 34:1. The Lord decided that in that case, I will promote you. It is true that no one wants see you (David), but I will promote you so that you will be their head. He decided that it is true they have relegated you (David) to the background, but I will bring you (David) to the palace. That was how David found favor before God and became King.

ACTION POINT; Dedicate time to praise and worship God frequently.