Friday, September 21, 2012 -- God's Favour Has Arrived

We continue to explore the amazing life, filled with wonderful gifts that we can expect to receive from God.  On what do we base those expectations?  Jesus own words that the time of God's favour had come.  This is what Jesus said:  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”  (Luke 4:18-19 NLT)

If anyone in history could claim to have been treated unfairly, it was Joseph. He was one of twelve sons, the favourite of his father. In their jealousy, Joseph’s ten older brothers staged his death to fool their father and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Once a slave, Joseph devoted himself to serving his master well and was quickly promoted. His master’s wife then propositioned him, and when Joseph refused her, he was falsely accused of rape. Thrown into prison with no hope of release, he again did his best to serve. He was soon running the administration of the prison. Finally, after many long years, Joseph was freed. He was promoted to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt. From this position Joseph was able to eventually confront and forgive his brothers, who had sold him into slavery many years before (Genesis 37-45).

Our process of recovery is a time of learning to find peace and joy from God while also accepting life as it is. Life isn’t always fair. It isn’t predictable or controllable. It can be wonderfully rich in some ways and terribly difficult in others. We begin to experience God's goodness, this wonderful favour of God, when we make a choice to look for it in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)

God has promised to always be with us. God surrounds our lives with care.  He knows.  He understands.  He is providing all we need today for a good life.

God has promised to bring good out of whatever difficulties we face. What more could we need? The first step in experiencing this wonderful favour is to believe that God good and is a generous giver.  The second is to believe that God has made a way, through Jesus, for us to receive all He is giving.  The third is to look for that goodness all around us and, in faith, live in what God says He is giving.

(Adapted from "Serenity Prayer - Acceptance" Life With God in Recovery) Copyright 2012 Partners in Hope Recovery Society