100 Days Of Favor (13 page)

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to experience a closer walk with You. I want to know You more intimately and be conscious of Your presence and unmerited favor in my life. Help me understand Your plans and purposes for me so that I may be wise in how I spend my days.

Today’s Thought

I will be Jesus-conscious, not devil-conscious.

Today’s Reflection On Favor

DAY 28

Acknowledge Jesus’ Presence By Giving Thanks

Today’s Scripture

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. —1 Thessalonians 5:18

T
HERE ARE
C
HRISTIANS
who know in theory that Jesus is with them, but they do not actively practice His presence. For me personally, one of the best ways to practice the presence of the Lord is to thank Him all the time. You can give thanks to Him for everything. Just say, “Lord, I thank You for this beautiful sunset. I thank You for Your love and for surrounding me with good things and good friends.”

What you appreciate appreciates in value in your eyes.

There is no limit to what you can thank Him for since every good and perfect gift that we enjoy today comes directly from Him (James 1:17). Even if you have had a rough day at work and you are facing a seemingly impossible challenge, you can practice His presence. The moment you realize that your heart is heavy with worry and your mind is plagued by anxiety, share your challenge with Jesus and thank Him that this problem is not bigger than His hands. Begin to surrender it to Him and depend on Him for His strength, power and peace.

As you do that, you are already practicing the presence of the Lord. And as you honor His presence and behave like He is indeed with you, He sees it as faith in Him and intervenes on your behalf for your success in whatever situation you may be in.

It is sad when Christians behave like some husbands who bring their wives to a party, only to ignore them completely. Their wives could be right there with them physically, but these guys are so engaged with their own friends, talking about the stock market, economy or latest game on television, that their wives might as well not be with them.

Ladies, do you know men like that? Now, men who are reading this book, I know you are not like that, so don’t get offended, all right? I know you cherish and love your wife. What I am trying to illustrate is that just because someone is with you physically, it does not mean that the person feels appreciated by you. Appreciation only occurs when you start acknowledging the presence of that person.

What I like to do is to look at Wendy across a room crowded with people, and when our eyes connect across the room, it is as if the rest of the people fade instantly into oblivion, and only Wendy remains. I want her to know that I appreciate her for coming along with me to that dinner event or meeting. I am not claiming that I am sensitive to Wendy all the time, but there are moments when I do want to make it a point to make her feel special. She is special to me, but to actually appreciate her and to make her feel special is something else all together. Like all husbands, I am still growing in this aspect.

Now, what does the word “appreciate” mean? It means “to increase in value.” If you appreciate someone, the person increases in value in your eyes. My friend, the Lord is already with you, so start to practice His presence. Begin by thanking Him, appreciating Him and increasing His value in your eyes, and you will see Him acting on your behalf.

Today’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge Your presence and give You thanks for the many blessings that You have showered upon me. Thank You for surrounding me with good things and good friends. Thank You for the breathtaking sunrise and the birds that sang beautifully this morning. Thank You especially for always being with me in every situation and for being my wisdom, strength and success.

Today’s Thought

I will give thanks to the Lord. That’s how I can acknowledge His presence and appreciate Him.

Today’s Reflection On Favor

DAY 29

The Right Definition Of Righteousness

Today’s Scripture

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. —Galatians 2:21,
KJV

W
HAT HAS A
right understanding of your righteousness got to do with expecting good to happen to you today? Everything!

Many believers associate righteousness with a list of things that they have to do, and if they fulfill this list, they feel “righteous.” Conversely, when they fail in terms of their behavior, they feel “unrighteous.” But this is the wrong definition and understanding of righteousness.

We became righteous because of what Jesus did for us at the cross.

Let’s go back to what the Bible has to say. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He [God] made Him [Jesus Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus Christ].” We are not righteous because we do right. We
became
righteous because of what
Jesus
did for us at the cross. “Righteousness,” therefore, is not based on
our
right doing. It is based entirely on
Jesus’
right doing. Christianity is not about
doing right
to become righteous. It is all about
believing right
in Jesus to become righteous.

Do you realize that we have been conditioned to associate being blessed with doing right? Most belief systems are based on a system of merit whereby you need to fulfill certain requirements—give to the poor, do good to others and care for the underprivileged—to attain a certain state of righteousness. It all sounds very noble, self-sacrificial and appealing to our flesh, which likes to feel that our good works have earned us our righteousness.

But God is not looking at your nobility, sacrifices or good works to justify you. He is only interested in Jesus’ humility at the cross. He looks at His Son’s perfect sacrifice at Calvary to justify you and make you righteous! Attempting to be justified by your good works and trying your best to keep the Ten Commandments to become righteous is to negate the cross of Jesus Christ. It is as good as saying, “The cross is not enough to justify me. I need to depend on my good works to make myself clean and righteous before God.”

The apostle Paul said, “I do not frustrate the grace [unmerited favor] of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” My friend, consider carefully what Paul is saying here. He is effectively saying that if you are depending on
your
good works,
your
doing and
your
ability to keep perfectly the Ten Commandments to become righteous, then Jesus died for nothing! That’s what “
in vain
” means—
for nothing!
So don’t frustrate the grace of God by depending on your good works to make yourself righteous and put God on your side. Jesus’ sacrifice is more than enough to justify you! And when you know that you are justified, you can be confident that the unmerited favor of God is on your side and expect good to happen to you today!

Today’s Prayer

Father, I thank You that my being righteous is not based on what I have done or not done, but what Jesus has done at the cross. I cease from my works to be righteous and simply rest in Jesus’ finished work. Help me to be established in the revelation that Jesus’ sacrifice alone enables me to have Your unmerited favor on my side today.

Today’s Thought

My being righteous is not based on my right doing. It is based entirely on Jesus’ right doing.

Today’s Reflection On Favor

DAY 30

Righteousness Is Free For You But It Cost God Dearly