By Josephine Lim Weston
Almost a month ago I received an email from a friend who was facing some situation at home. A few days before I received her email I watched Pastor Joseph Prince's sermon on TBN channel and he shared about how important it is that we pray for favour with our spouse and children. Some of us do pray for God's favour (so that we receive more of His blessings) with our employers, colleagues etc but when it comes to our family, we don't realise that it's so crucial and important that we have favour with the most important people of our lives. When we have favour with our spouse, we know that regardless who we are, whether we are right or wrong or what circumstances we are facing, they are there to pray, love, care, provide, serve and support us. In our ups and especially in our downs they will try not to add salt to our wound but will speak words of life and faith to us and our situation. When we have favour with our children we know that if we discipline, correct and tell them the truth in love for their good they will not harbour bitterness and resentment but will eventually realise and appreciate us much more (it might not be immediate but they will realise when they grow up and mature). For not correcting our children especially when they're young and leave them alone and let them be because we want to please them or appease them will only bring them closer to their destruction. (Proverb 29:15 The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.)
Almost two weeks ago while we were on our way to the nearby children centre for my son's stay and play session, the Lord impressed on my heart to pray for favour. I prayed for His favour and favour with people that I come in contact with at the children centre that day. Jean-Luc enjoys playing with the toys at stay and play and he likes playing with other children there too. It was just about another half an hour before the session ends that my son saw balls that he liked and he went to get them. Then what happened was - one of the dads at stay and play withheld those balls from my son as my son kept following him and pleaded with him for the balls. His own son had lost interest in playing with them and enjoyed more playing at the sand pit but he was trying to reserve those balls while convincing his son to play with them again. No matter how long my son pleaded with him for the balls he was determined not to give them to my son and insisted that it was my son's fault who pursued them that caused his son to lose interest in the balls. So my son cried and I tried my best to remove my son from getting any nearer to that particular dad and at that instance a staff on duty at the stay and play suddenly appeared and asked whether I'm fine and I guessed she must have heard or saw what happened and came to our defence. She was so thoughtful and tactful throughout and she even said very kind words assuring me that she has observed how I have been following my son around supervising him and that I'm doing a fantastic job as a mum, etc. She kept asking me whether I'm fine (not shaken by the negative words spoken by that particular dad and the whole ordeal). She even asked that particular dad to end the argument. She's a brave, professional and yet calmly strong woman.
I thank God that the whole situation at stay and play was self explanatory as I didn't even have to defend myself or say a word but God's favour was at work in my life and my son's life. While the staff was asking me whether I'm fine after the incident and assured me that I'm a good mother and doing the right thing, another mother with two children distracted Jean-Luc by playing with him to stop him from further distress. I thank God for His favour that surround us. We decided to go home earlier after the incident as I believed Jean-Luc must have been tired with all the pleading and crying. While we're outside the children centre, that particular dad with his son in the pushchair was behind us and was walking fast as I could hear the disgruntled footsteps hence I decided to stop just outside the children centre playground and let him walk pass me (just in case, I thought if anything happened to us at least there will be witnesses.) I stayed calm. Thank God he walked past us fast and soon he was out of sight. When we got home that day, I decided to write a complimentary letter to the staff on duty and other staff at the children who have been helpful and kind to us thus far.
What I want to share here is that we are not to take God's favour for granted neither lightly. The more favour we have with God, the more our character must complement it. Yes it's important to pray for favour with God and man (like the favour I have with the staff at the children centre) but in all these prayers we should also be a responsible and trustworthy person. A person of integrity, kindness and compassion for others. If I have been unfriendly, selfish, reckless and not being responsible supervising my son while he was playing with other children at stay and play, I wonder whether the staff there would have been so quickly coming to our defence. I always like to encourage and thank people when I'm given the opportunity to do so as I find that a lot of people are not being appreciated for the good works they have done and what's more the good deeds they do secretly and discreetly.
There are passages that I like to share with all of you that show us the people mentioned in the Bible who have favour with God and men with excellent spirit and that's what I hope in our prayer for favour with God and man, we will also pray that God will stir our spirit to be people with excellent character who are brave, stand up for truth and justice, responsible, trustworthy, kind and compassionate.
Genesis 39:
2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he [even though a slave] became a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. 3 Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper (succeed) in his hand. 4 So Joseph pleased Potiphar and found favour in his sight and he served him as his personal servant. He made Joseph overseer over his house, and he put all that he owned in Joseph’s charge. 5 It happened that from the time that he made Joseph overseer in his house and [put him in charge] over all that he owned, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph; so the Lord’s blessing was on everything that Potiphar owned, in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s charge; and with Joseph there he did not [need to] [a]pay attention to anything except the food he ate.
Luke 2:
51 Then he (Jesus) went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Proverb 3
3 Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you'll find favour and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
I'm reading the book of Ezra at the moment and this passage speaks volume in my heart that I can't help but to share with all of you.
Ezra 1
1Now in the [a]first year of [b]Cyrus king of Persia [that is, the first year he ruled Babylon], in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah [the prophet], the Lord stirred up (put in motion) the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The [c]Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is God who is in Jerusalem. 4 In any place where a survivor (Jewish exile) may live, let the men (Gentiles) of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’”
Kind Cyrus was a non-Jew but God stirred the spirit in him in favour of the Jews to rebuild God's temple in Jerusalem. As I read this, I thought if God can stirred the spirit of an unbeliever how much more God can stir our spirit to walk in the path of destiny He has set for us. Very important that we must realise that destiny or prosperous future don't necessarily or only mean career, family, fortune, success but much more importantly the way we live our lives that reach out to others. A life that is not fearful but courageous, a life of integrity and not lies, a life that stands up for mercy and truth for the benefit of others and ourselves, a life of servitude even though when we are being overlooked or not being appreciated and also be silent and humble enough to listen, admit and confess our wrong when we needed to without fear or blaming others because that's when we can see more of God's favour at work and gain the trust and favour of people around us.
I pray that God will stir in us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17); spirit of discernment and understanding; spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13) to believe and to speak. Help us oh Lord to be able to produce the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)).
I hope you're all encouraged and may you receive the favour of God and man all the days of your life and your spirit be stirred by God to walk in His ways.
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