UNDERSTANDING MUST PRECEDE FAVOUR

The first time I connected with my spiritual father was in 2007. I had invited him to a meeting as a guest minister and he was gracious enough to oblige. I left the relationship like that for almost thirteen years. 

Sometimes, I would call him just to check up on him. There were times I would just say hello. I never knew that there was more to our relationship. 

When I woke up to the revelation of that relationship, it was already thirteen years. After I understood and aligned properly, we began to see a significant shift in our marriage and ministry. It was obvious that we got something right. 

One prayer that you must pray is that the Lord bless you with the grace to discern the blessing of men, the blessing on me, the blessing in me and the blessing through men. Whenever discernment is lacking, perception is poor. Wherever perception is poor, grace cannot flow properly. 

It was the Lord that appeared to Abraham but when Abraham looked, it was three men that he saw. His discernment was sharp. He used hospitality to draw them into his tent. He used service to hold them for a while. He used honour to provoke an answer for what he had waited for. The challenge of many years was solved by one divine utterance. What if Abraham did not discern those men? 

When the people who grew up with Jesus perceived him as their brother and not as their Lord and Messiah, they literally tied the flow of grace. He could do nothing in their midst. 

The Shunamite woman told her husband that she sensed that the man that was constantly passing them by was a man of God. Once they discerned him rightly, an understanding was supplied and their approach changed. That was the adjustment that produced their answers and the long-awaited miracle also. 

If the Lord wants to bless a man, He blesses him with understanding before favour comes. If favour comes before understanding, such a man would squander the favour. He would deal with it without understanding. Esau did not know the favour that followed his birthright. He had sold it for a plate of food before he understood it. He sought it with tears but it was too late. 

It takes understanding to attract, sustain and preserve favour and all it brings into our lives. 

Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Proverbs 13:15 NKJV

When things are very difficult and life is hard, you may need to find out where understanding is failing. 

What relationships have you wasted and squandered because you did not know or you did not discern it accurately? What opportunities is the Spirit of the Lord bringing to your heart right now? Now that you know, what will you do about it? 

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa.