For You Lord will bless the righteous; with favor will You surround them as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)
The definition of favor is a kind act: an act of kindness performed or granted out of goodwill, an approving attitude: an approving, friendly, or supportive attitude,a preference: preferential treatment shown to somebody.
Once we understand what favor is, we can appreciate even more what God does for us. I have stated out loud daily,” I am surrounded by God’s favor!” The Lord says to remind Him of His word. Every time I have a meeting with someone in business or personal issues, I remind God of His favor towards me and I tell the devil that I have God’s favor. God has never let me down. The shield that David is speaking of in this verse is literally a shield that covers the entire body, soul and spirit of a man. Who does this shield cover? The righteous. Who are the righteous? Those who trust and know Jesus and none else. We are only righteous through the shed Blood of Jesus. Our own righteousness of good works and sticking to rules is as filthy rags before the Lord. It is through what Jesus has accomplished for us that we can obtain the favor of God and righteousness before Him. Once we know Jesus, then good works and applying His word to our lives should show forth in our walk with God as a sign of being regenerated and renewed.
The greatest fruit of repentance in my life has been seeing God’s word manifest in my daily walk with Him. Disobedience causes all kinds of heartaches, but God still uses all of who and what we were as stepping stones to who we are becoming. Nothing is wasted in Christ. There are no more lost years, lost relationships, lost opportunities; I solely have learned to view those things as training courses for what God has lined up for the future. When our hearts are toward God, He makes all our mistakes into milestones and failures into our good future. His shield is with us who fear His name and follow after Him and seek Him.
For You O Lord are a shield for me, the glory and the lifter of my head. Let God know today that you acknowledge Him as your shield and safe refuge.
Pastor Michael Cannatello
lazarusministry.com
