Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come ~ Psalms 102:13.
Introduction
To God be all the glory! We are alive today and beholding the beauties of a brand new year only by God's special grace. Praise ye the Lord!
I also thank all our reading audience for being a part of our lives and ministry in the course of the just ended year, loving us, responding to our love and encouraging us one way or the other. God bless you all.
No doubt, the just ended year 2022 offered a basket of varieties, depending on where you're coming from. For some, it gave and gave and gave again, even up till the last minute, but for some others it took and took and took. I can imagine that some people, even with strong determination, operated only in survival mode throughout the year 2022, looking around and wondering: why is my life like this?
In particular, I am also quite aware that some people, especially Nigerian citizens at this time, are living under an ongoing apprehension as to what 2023 holds for them, being a general election year with all its historical antecedents.
But, whatever, we must learn to forget the past and focus now on God and what He wishes to do in our lives to rechristen our future over the next 12 months. William James, said: "The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook". Unfortunately though, we live in a world where many fools always think that they know everything!
See, there is something coincidentally unique about this moment: it is the beginning of the new day, a new week, a new month and a new year. Certainly, it comes with new supernatural opportunities, and we must make the most of it.
However, just like one wise man said: “life comprises only of two days: a day for you and a day against you. But, both days will expire! So when it is for you, do not be reckless; and when it is against you, be patient and reposition yourself for a better day” (Author Unknown).
We have just crossed over into year 2023 by the grace of God, but we must hold tight our faith, confidence and the determination to create an atmosphere for God to continue to bless us profusely until even the blessed begin to call us blessed, no matter what happens around us.
Prophetic Proclamation of the Lord’s Favour
At this stage, I must proclaim by the sure Word of the Lord that, for those that believe, we are entering into the year of "The Lord’s Favour". This is the summary of God’s lofty plans for all His children in year 2023. But, we all must reposition ourselves well to truly enjoy it.
Basically, favour is an approval, or a preferment granted to make things easier for a person or a group of persons. It is an act of kindness, endorsement or help rendered without recourse to what you have done or left undone, or to your qualifications.
Favour goes out of its way to do something to help a person beyond what is due him. It treats with generosity, leniency, and gives preferential treatment in order to accord an advantage or an edge to a person above others to the level where it could be termed “partiality” or “favoritism”. Favour approves a person’s plan or a course of action, without too much of “due process” or “brutal scrutiny”.
When God favours you, He becomes generous towards you until you feel it. He becomes lenient with you, showing you mercy, forgiving, tolerating and withholding nothing you need from you. He protects you and moves you forward where others are stagnating. Yes, when He favours you, He will do anything for you, including kill your enemies for you when necessary (Isaiah 43:2-4).
Favour produces supernatural increase, promotion and restoration. It also produces honour, recognition and great possessions. Furthermore, authority for answered prayer, prominence and inexplicable victories are commonplace with those whom God has favoured. You won’t miss these, in Jesus name.
How To Reposition Yourself for the Lord’s Favour
The Bible clearly posits that a right standing with God supernaturally provokes favour and blessings (Psalm 5:12). Meanwhile, when a man receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal Saviour, he also simultaneously receives an imputed righteousness that makes him the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, every genuine child of God is a candidate for God’s high favour.
The quintessential note here is that God’s righteousness cannot be separated from His wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). Hence, as we stand right with Christ in God, we must also make a conscious choice to walk in His wisdom. Never forget, for example, that action is the foundation of success. As you set your goal for the new year, you must also set necessary actionable as well as measurable plans to realize the goals.
Review. Refresh. Recalibrate. Resolve. Refuel. Reinvent and relaunch. Let everything you do each day of the new year take you closer to your objectives. You must readily starve your distractions, feed your focus and build up your God-given dreams if you wish to enjoy the Lord’s favour to the fullest.
Again, regularly ask yourself the following very salient questions: How would I like to be described this year? What unforgettable impacts do I wish to generate in the next twelve months? What would I seriously regret to have never tried at the close of the year? What must I do to truly glorify God in 2023?
Please take note that if you are lazy, nothing will change. If you don't have a set goal and a plan, and if you don’t work in the direction of your goal, nothing will change. If you don't change your negative mindset, nothing will change.
Yes indeed, if you’re not ready to take a risk in faith, and if you won’t work on your character and relationships with others, nothing will change. Be wise with your life please, because dates may change but all days are still evil (Ephesians 5:16).
In conclusion, Flight 2023 has already taken off. The duration of the flight will be 12 months, God willing. Delicious menu — power with God in prayers, endless harvests of favour, miracles, great health, super-breakthroughs, incredible prosperity, joy, victory in spiritual conflicts, relevance in the things of the kingdom, and so on — is being offered by the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ, and His cabin crew, the Gospel Ministers.
Please, be fully determined to cooperate with the Lord and His ministers, receive the unfailing favour of God and enjoy your flight on board flight 2023. Evil wind will not be able to hinder your progress this year, in Jesus Name. Amen. Happy First Sunday!
** Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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