Embracing God's Blessing and Favor in Community

So often, we forget just how much control we have over our own experience of church and community. When we invite others, when we engage, we shape the very atmosphere we long for. As we gather, it’s important to lay our burdens before God, trusting Him with the cares that weigh us down, so that our hearts are free to worship and to listen. God is present in every part of our gathering—through prayers, songs, conversations, and even in the quiet moments. The hope is that we leave changed, more like Christ, ready to meet a hurting world with His love.

Psalm 5 reminds us that those who take refuge in God are blessed and covered with His favor, like a shield. Yet, many of us hesitate to claim that we are “blessed and highly favored.” It can feel presumptuous, as if we’re claiming to be God’s favorite or to have earned something special. But the truth is, God’s blessing and favor are not about our performance or our perfection. We are counted as righteous not because of our own goodness, but because of Christ’s righteousness given to us. To deny this is to deny the work of Christ on our behalf.

Blessing is not always about material abundance or the absence of trouble. Sometimes, it’s simply the gift of clean water, a safe place to gather, or the roads we take for granted. Other times, it’s the deeper reality of knowing God, of walking and talking with Him—not just in eternity, but right now. God’s favor is His loving approval, His grace poured out on us, not because we are better than others, but because He loves us.

There are days when we don’t feel blessed—when pain, loss, or frustration cloud our vision. But blessing is not a feeling; it’s a fact rooted in God’s character and His promises. Even in affliction, even in the hardest days, God’s favor can be a shield, protecting our hearts from despair. Choosing to declare, “I am blessed and highly favored,” is not about ignoring pain or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about standing on the truth of who God is and who we are in Him, regardless of our circumstances.

So, let’s move beyond the empty pleasantries of “I’m fine” or “I’m good.” Let’s use every opportunity—even the simple question, “How are you?”—to remind ourselves and others of God’s goodness. In doing so, we open doors to share Christ’s love in unexpected places, and we anchor our hearts in the unchanging reality of His blessing and favor.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Entrusting Our Cares to God Frees Us to Worship When we intentionally lay our burdens before God, we create space in our hearts to truly focus on Him. This act of surrender is not just a spiritual exercise, but a practical way to experience freedom and deeper worship. It’s a reminder that God is more capable of handling our concerns than we are, and that trust is the foundation of our relationship with Him. [09:26]
• 2. Our Righteousness Is a Gift, Not an Achievement God sees us as righteous not because of our flawless behavior, but because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice. To accept this is to honor what Jesus accomplished on the cross; to reject it is to diminish His work. Living in this truth allows us to receive God’s blessings with humility and gratitude, knowing they are rooted in grace, not merit. [30:18]
• 3. Blessing Is Often Hidden in the Ordinary and the Difficult We are surrounded by blessings we rarely notice—clean water, safe roads, the ability to gather freely. Sometimes, blessing is even found in affliction or loss, as God uses hardship to shape us and reveal His presence. Recognizing this requires a shift in perspective, seeing God’s hand not just in abundance, but in every circumstance. [41:18]
• 4. God’s Favor Is His Loving Grace, Not Preferential Treatment To be “highly favored” is not to be God’s favorite above others, but to be covered by His grace and loving approval. This favor acts as a shield, protecting our hearts from bitterness and despair, especially when life is hard. Embracing God’s favor means accepting His love as a constant, not something we earn or lose based on our performance. [37:57]
• 5. Declaring God’s Blessing Anchors Us in Truth, Not Circumstance Choosing to say, “I am blessed and highly favored,” is a declaration of faith, not a denial of pain or struggle. It’s a stance rooted in God’s promises, not in how we feel on any given day. This practice not only strengthens our own hearts, but also opens doors to share Christ’s love with others in everyday conversations.
  
  ** [49:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [09:26] - Opening Prayer and Casting Our Cares
• [11:06] - Worship Through Song
• [25:50] - Introduction to Psalm 5
• [26:34] - God’s Blessing and Protection
• [27:28] - The Story Behind “Blessed and Highly Favored”
• [29:32] - Wrestling with Righteousness
• [30:18] - Christ’s Righteousness and Our Identity
• [31:09] - Recognizing Everyday Blessings
• [33:12] - Reminding Ourselves of God’s Goodness
• [34:11] - The Gift of Relationship with God
• [36:28] - Understanding God’s Favor
• [37:57] - Grace, Favor, and Jesus’ Example
• [41:18] - Blessing in Affliction
• [43:20] - “Better Than I Deserve” and the Shield of Favor
• [45:30] - God’s Unconditional Love
• [49:44] - Declaring Blessing as a Stance
• [51:38] - Responding to God and Sharing His Love

Bible Reading

Psalm 5:11-12 (ESV) — > But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
> let them ever sing for joy,
> and spread your protection over them,
> that those who love your name may exult in you.
> For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
> you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 5:11-12, what does God do for those who take refuge in Him?
2. In the sermon, what are some everyday blessings the pastor mentions that we often overlook? ([31:09])
3. How does the pastor describe the difference between being “highly favored” and being “God’s favorite”? ([36:28])
4. What does the pastor say about the relationship between our feelings and the reality of being blessed? ([49:44])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might people feel uncomfortable saying they are “blessed and highly favored”? What does the pastor say is the real reason we can claim this? ([29:32])
2. How does understanding that our righteousness is a gift from Christ (not our own achievement) change the way we see God’s blessing? ([30:18])
3. The pastor shares stories of people who found blessing even in affliction or loss. What does this suggest about the nature of God’s blessing? ([41:18])
4. How does declaring “I am blessed and highly favored” act as a shield for our hearts, according to the sermon? ([43:20])

Application Questions

1. The pastor encourages us to lay our burdens before God so we can worship freely. Is there a specific worry or burden you need to entrust to God this week? What would it look like to do that? ([09:26])
2. When someone asks, “How are you?” do you usually give a surface answer? How might responding with “I am blessed and highly favored” change your conversations and your own mindset? ([33:12])
3. Think about the ordinary things in your life—like clean water, safe roads, or a place to gather. Which of these have you taken for granted? How can you practice gratitude for them this week? ([31:09])
4. Have you ever felt like you had to “earn” God’s favor or blessing? How does it feel to know that God’s favor is a gift, not something you achieve? ([30:18])
5. The pastor talks about blessing being present even in hard times. Can you recall a difficult season where you later saw God’s blessing or protection? How did that experience shape your faith? ([41:18])
6. The sermon challenges us to move beyond “I’m fine” and use everyday moments to share about God’s goodness. Who is one person you could encourage this week by sharing how God has blessed you? ([50:24])
7. If declaring “I am blessed and highly favored” is a stance, not a feeling, what practical step can you take to anchor yourself in this truth when circumstances are tough? ([49:44])