The Time of Favor

The Time of Favor TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life… Joshua 4:14, NIV. TODAY'S WORD: I love the promise that God gave to Joshua. He said, “Joshua, today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all the Israelites.” He was saying, “Today, I’m going to start releasing more of My favor, My blessings, My increase.” But notice, there was a specific time in his life that God began to release favor in a new way. Friend, I believe God wants to do the same thing for you. He wants to release His blessing and favor in such a way that it makes you great—a great parent, a great spouse, a great leader, a great employee, a great friend, a great business person. He is saying to us what He said to Joshua, “This day I’m going to begin to make your name great. This day I’m going to begin to release My favor in a new way. I’m going to open doors that no man can shut.” It is a set time of God’s favor. Get ready! Make room in your thinking. Stay open to Him and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because the time of God’s favor is here! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, I bless You today. Thank You for pouring out Your favor and blessing upon me. I open my heart and mind to receive every good thing You have in store for me today in Jesus’ name. Amen. PS...

Acceptance Does Not Require Approval by Rick Warren “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” (Romans 15:7 NLT) Did you know that every time you show love, it gives glory to God? Because God is love, and glory is revealing what God is really like. God says, “I am loving. I am compassionate. I want you to be like me. I want you to develop my character.” You’re never going to be God. You’re never even going to be a teeny-tiny God. But God says he wants you to become godly. He wants you to develop his character. Like father like son, like father like daughter. He wants you to learn to love people the way he loves people. God is love. Every time you do that, it shows God’s glory. Of course, one of the ways you love others is just by accepting them. Just because you don’t like what people do doesn’t mean you can’t accept them. Do you understand the difference between acceptance and approval? You can accept someone without approving of everything they do. There is a big difference! We are to accept everybody; we are not to approve everything everybody does. So no matter what people do, or who they do it with, or how they do it, or how long they do it — it doesn’t matter. You are to love them. You are to accept them. It does not mean that you approve of what they do. God loves you, but it doesn’t mean he approves of everything you do. Love is not saying I approve of everything you do. Love is saying I accept you in spite of what you do. Romans 15:7 says, “Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (NLT). Talk It Over Who do you need to accept in your life, even if you don’t approve of what they believe or do?   What are some practical ways you can show acceptance and love to people, especially the ones the world expects you to turn away from because of what they believe or do?