"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; 

establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands." 

(Psalms 90:17, NIV)

 

The favor of God just astounds me. It's one of His most precious gifts to us. I think of it as “the gift of gifts.” For me God's favor has provided for me in ways I still can't understand, and through people in ways that made no sense to me.

 

One of those seasons of favor happened when I was twelve years old. My family had just lost our home due to my adopted father's gambling habit. My mom, sister and I moved in with my mother's brother and his family. My sister and I had just begun attending church services with our best friends. It was during that season that I sought solace in gospel music. 

 

God's favor began when my mother came home from work one day with a financial gift from one of her coworkers. Her name was Mrs. D. My mother handed me a ten dollar bill touting, "This is from Mrs. D." I gladly took the gift, but I didn't know who Mrs. D. was or why she was sending me a monetary gift. Later that year when I turned thirteen, mom handed me another gift from Mrs. D. Again, I gladly received it, sending back a thankful reply. 

 

Every year afterward, I received a birthday gift from Mrs. D., until I was about seventeen. I finally got to meet Mrs. D when our family moved up the street from her family after we left my uncle's home. A few years later, I became her sitter, looking after her only daughter.

 

To this day, I still don't have a clue about Mrs. D's motivation for blessing me. I don’t know what my mother told her about me. Maybe it was because I was fainting a lot back then because of my defective heart…I don’t know. However, I am so grateful that God allowed me the opportunity to return the kindness to her family.

 

I know the favor of God is sometimes so mysterious, yet, so amazing. Last week, when seeking God’s guidance about what to write to you this week, He reminded me about His love for us. For a long time, I never felt loved, but when He brought this story to my remembrance, I realized, I had always been loved. It was just being displayed in some very uncommon ways.

 

Think back on the uncommon favor of God in your life, have you overlooked His favor in plain view? Or take a good look at His favor in your life today, can you see His goodness? I promise that when you notice it, you will surely smile. I did then, and I am now as I write to you. God is also smiling as He pours out His goodness upon us, especially in this day. 

 

Prayer:

Father, all we have to say is, “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You and Thank You for Your amazing grace and unmerited favor. Especially, when we know we don’t deserve any of it! And we never can! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.