Category Archives: favor of God

God Has Breakthrough For You!

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Recently I had an experience I’d like to encourage you with.

Several of us went to a prophetic meeting at another church and had
a wonderful time of worship, teaching, and receiving some exciting
prophetic words.

After the service, on the way out, one of the participants came up
to me and complimented me on a shawl I was wearing. I loved the
shawl too, not just because it was hand woven cashmere, hand
embroidered, and gorgeous, but I bought it from a missionary pastor
after one of his trips to Nepal. I had never worn it before that
night because the weather had been too warm. I was very excited
that this night I could. To me, it felt like an anointed and
special shawl.

Well, it must have been, because without hesitation, I took the
shawl off and placed it on the shoulders of the woman saying,
“Here. It’s yours.”

It happened so quickly and naturally that giving it to her didn’t
even phase me. Except for feeling a blast of cold air once I went
outside, I almost didn’t even notice what had happened and gave it
no thought… until the next morning.

Now, I can’t say I know exactly why giving this shawl would be so
significant, but I think it is. I will share what’s been revealed
so far.

1. God’s nature is to give. Throughout scripture and in our own
experience, we know that God is a Giver. 2 Peter 1: 2-3 say that
God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, and
through His precious promises, we share in His divine nature.

And what is that nature? To be a giver.

Now, this is not startling news to any of you, I’m sure, as it
wasn’t to me. Which leads me to point 2.

2. For me, as much as I have known that it is God’s nature to
give, and thus it is my nature, too, I have not always been a very
giving person, at least of some things. I have had an easy time
giving my time, energy, heart, and money…. but, don’t ask me why,
giving away personal possession that I love, well that is not
something I do.

Ok, so maybe even that is not such a big deal. And so, what is?

3. For me, here it is:  Without my working at it, I had a
breakthrough! The natural giving away of my shawl was just a
manifestation of a breakthrough that had occurred a while ago. The
breakthrough allowed the free flow of God’s giving nature to flow
through me to bless this woman. And because I share in His divine
nature, I experienced no lack when I gave the shawl away.

Breakthrough takes down any barrier erected that inhibits the flow
of God’s powerful provisions and our true nature. I love and need
breakthroughs of all kinds.

4. How did the breakthrough occur? Well, it was part and parcel
of the revelation of favor. A revelation of favor produces
breakthroughs...not grind-it-out breakthroughs, but effortless
breakthroughs, breakthroughs that occur when you aren’t even
looking.

And, I guess this is the essence of my encouragement to you. Take
the favor of God seriously. It causes profound and life altering
changes.

Please, I couldn’t be more urgent about this…. seek God and ask
for a huge revelation of His favor. It is only in revelation that
you will feel its impact.

If you are not excited about favor, then you need a deeper
revelation about it. 2 Cor 5: 18-20 (AMP) tells
us God sent His Son to restore the world to favor! That is a big
deal! Paul urges us to lay hold of this favor! We are to be
releasers of His favor!

To help you lay hold as we are encouraged to do, I have written a
book. Many of you already have it. That’s wonderful, and if you
do, I would also ask you to do the exercises in it. God will take
you to the next step.

If you don’t have it, please don’t let a wimpy bit of money keep you
from experiencing more of all God has for you. I don’t say this to
make a buck, believe me! I just want you to experience how real
favor is. It is profound. It produces major transformational
breakthroughs. It also produces jobs, new housing arrangements,
connections, and lots, lots, more.

Who knows what your life would look like with an increased
revelation of favor?!

We are all His favorites!

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I just had to share a segment from Bill Johnson’s talk, “Dreaming Out of Intimacy.”  Referring to the coming revival, he says,  “It’s fascinating to talk to various groups of people, whether it like, denominations… Baptists feel the revival is coming from them, and of course, Pentacostals think it’s coming from them, the youth think it’s coming from them because they have the zeal and energy for it, and the seniors think it’s coming from them because of the wisdom that comes from experience …  Israel, Native Americans, men, women, leaders, those without a title …all think it’s coming from them….

But let me tell the secret behind all of it, the Father is so amazing, that He gives each individual undivided attention, to where each person feels like THEY’RE THE FAVORITE!”

Oh, yes!!  We all need to believe and feel that we are the Father’s FAVORITE!  Because we are! He is able, in His unfathomable way to make each of us feel special and wholeheartedly attended to. We all have a part to play, and isn’t it grand that He gives us the feeling of favor to carry forth!!!

Press into Him and His favor… you will love it!!

Amazing new study on prayer!

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I wanted to share with you today an exciting new study on prayer which will be published in a medical journal… specifically, the September 2010 issue of the Southern Medical Journal.

“The study ….. measured surprising improvements in vision and hearing in economically disadvantaged areas where eyeglasses and hearing aids are not readily available…”

Candy Brown, an associate professor at Indiana University,  and her colleagues studied the activities of the healing groups Iris Ministries and Global Awakening in Mozambique and Brazil because of their reputation as hotspots of specialized prayer for those with hearing and vision impairments.”  To read more, click here.

Besides the obvious significance of having the work of God be documented in a medical journal and just generally being “out there” in the world, there is another aspect of this study that is particularly exciting to us.

We love Iris Ministries, headed by Heidi and Rolland Baker!  Our first encounter with them was through our son, Joe.  The Bakers were frequent guest speakers at the ministry school he attended.  Joe related that besides their very relaxed attitudes, the single most impressive quality that surrounded them was LOVE. In fact, the love was so strong that merely standing next to Heidi, he could tangibly feel the strength of it.

This prompted me to read the Bakers’ book, “Expecting Miracles,” a intimate journal of their daily lives… accounting the miracles, yes, but also the hardships, the governmental and spiritual forces that come against them regularly, the unavoidable discouragement they victoriously battle.  I pondered before the Lord… how do they have such love … how do they think… what makes them able to go on, to stand fast in the grace and love You have given to them?

The Lord revealed this from their book  (and I write about it in mine, p.66-68):

  • COMPLETE trust in Him and in His love and power to heal through them
  • REFUSAL to allow self-condemnation or any weakness to diminish their fiery love
  • Hard-core BELIEF that they are the crowning achievement of all His creative power

The Bakers are convinced they have the Father’s approval, esteem, and favor… and they refuse self-condemnation! Indeed being convinced allows them complete trust in Him, and complete trust in Him solidifies the nature of their relationship.  No where in their writing did I see any connection between their performance and God’s approval. Without the clutter of trying to earn God’s favor, the way is clear to Him and His power to heal.

This is what I want.  I am convinced that God has vividly shown me His favor because it is such an effective force in dissolving fear and any barriers to Him.  The more I apprehend His favor, the more I walk in freedom, fulfillment, and fruitfulness.  I am committed to share this powerful gift with others.  In fact, it is my main mission at this time.

Remember…because of who you are to Him… YOU have His favor!!