2013 and Favor

This is going to be a very intriguing year.

For many, it is going to be the "year of the Lord's favor". They will step out from the 2012 nightmare - dark and dank, finding new space in the favor of God. Of course, we are always in grace, however, there are seasons of pain, trauma, uncertainty, vulnerability which force us in the everlasting arms of our God.

Then the season changes, The wisps of spring begin to bring in new fragrances of the color, texture and beauty of favor. Same God, different season.

In the joy of this discovery comes the rhythms of obedience that will produce much fruit. This is how Jesus described it:

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" [less strategy, more obedience]

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him" [less condemnation, more witness]

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work" [less my dreams. more his work]

"I say to you the Son can do nothing of his own accord but only what he sees the Father doing" [less activity, more meditative prayer]

"For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me" [less about me, much more about Him]

"And this is the will of him to sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me" [less preoccupied by the new thing, more invested with those he has given me]

"I do nothing of my own authority but speak just as my Father taught me" [less personal opinions, more clear divine instruction]

These texts from John continue to shift us from the preoccupation with our own 'majesty' and draw us into ever increasing affection, praise and surrender to Him. In the time of favor, we are not to consider this as our due, or our reward. It is not. It is simply acts of divine kindness of which we are most underserving.