tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post2760900906970448685..comments2024-03-13T19:10:53.441-04:00Comments on paravanes:meditations: Declaring Yourself "Blessed and Highly Favored"? Slow Down A Bit...Deborah Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-31002263181114370062024-03-13T15:20:39.240-04:002024-03-13T15:20:39.240-04:00I think too many people view “blessed and highly f...I think too many people view “blessed and highly favored” through worldly standards. When I confess this over my life, I’m not confessing for worldly gains and I am not willing it forcefully from my Godly father. Rather, I am speaking life to dead situations. I don’t expect life to be perfect, but even in the midst of the storms that might brew around me, I am standing on a faith and a promise that I am blessed and highly favored; that I am the head and not the tail. Speaking life-given words strengthens my faith and my trust in God. His blessings and his favor come in all forms, whether material gains or soul gains. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-44848104502389417252017-04-26T18:52:31.930-04:002017-04-26T18:52:31.930-04:00I don't know if there is a "wrong" w...I don't know if there is a "wrong" way to understand being blessed and highly favored if we look at those in scripture who lived beyond their natural abilities by choosing God's will over their own will.<br /><br />My purpose in writing the blog was to point out the need to separate "blessed and highly favored" from "wealthy, beautiful, and envied by others." These may go together, but tbey are not the same.<br /><br />Of course, it's always good to greet someone with kind words of blessing and encouragement. Words of blessing help and lift up our spirits.<br /><br />On the other hand, the false teaching that God's favor can be identified mostly by material blessings contradicts the teachings and examples given in scripture.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-75057473958843999202017-04-25T09:51:23.653-04:002017-04-25T09:51:23.653-04:00Hello someone said to me this morning " be fa...Hello someone said to me this morning " be favored and blessed girl" I really did not know how to take it but after reading what it means and reading so many comments without making to much into it. I though why would anyone take it the wrong way for someone saying this to them? I feel like we are all favored and very blessed "I do believe". I can only truly speak for myself my god has always favored and blessed me in every step of my life. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-78326469677169570362016-11-13T17:13:33.755-05:002016-11-13T17:13:33.755-05:00You are welcome!You are welcome!Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-16134551414141989152016-11-13T16:48:25.647-05:002016-11-13T16:48:25.647-05:00Great points! Thank you Great points! Thank you Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-80636773370724992662016-11-04T21:53:10.711-04:002016-11-04T21:53:10.711-04:00I see your point, Snubbed.
My preference is to ex...I see your point, Snubbed.<br /><br />My preference is to examine myself and work on taking myself to the next level, with God's help and guidance. We only have to answer for ourselves, not others. Pray for the person and live before them as an example of goodness, godliness, and joy. You may have more influence through example than through criticism. Thanks for reading the blog!Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-4878146893223541792016-11-03T23:19:06.174-04:002016-11-03T23:19:06.174-04:00 I asked someone that I had spoken with for a whil... I asked someone that I had spoken with for a while how he was doing and I feel that he told me with a flare of arrogance that he was blessed and highly favored. Hoping you can read between lines I ask you would our holy god consider this person to be blessed and highly favored when he goes around selling single cigarettes to people in his neighborhood.Snubbedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09628459978631473759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-66998435202315790582016-11-03T23:08:37.207-04:002016-11-03T23:08:37.207-04:00I googled why do people say they are blessed and h... I googled why do people say they are blessed and highly favored and it led me to this blog. You see, I ran into someone that I hadn't spoken with her in a while and I asked them how they were doing and they so arrogant and they said that they were blessed and highly favored. I felt he was putting his self high above me. By the way, would a follower of Jesus or would Jesus go around selling cigarettes? Snubbedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09628459978631473759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-67483546785554668622016-08-19T13:37:04.380-04:002016-08-19T13:37:04.380-04:00Anonymous, it's been a while since you shared ...Anonymous, it's been a while since you shared a comment. Would you like to expand upon what you mean?<br /><br />I have heard and read "positive thinking is satanic" in other settings. I have mixed feelings about this statement.<br /><br />If the statement means we cannot find ultimate and permanent good apart from God, as revealed in the Holy Bible, I agree.<br /><br />If the statement means no good or forward movement can come from looking for the best in every situation, I wouldn't agree with that.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-90199227725543265542016-08-12T00:44:11.244-04:002016-08-12T00:44:11.244-04:00Positive thinking is satanicPositive thinking is satanicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-49754811715418273252016-02-07T16:37:54.481-05:002016-02-07T16:37:54.481-05:00Thank you, Tristan, for your encouraging words! I ...Thank you, Tristan, for your encouraging words! I also appreciate that you continued to read all of the comments to get the full picture.<br />Enjoy a blessed week!Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-11105075773023279082016-02-07T15:14:51.584-05:002016-02-07T15:14:51.584-05:00Well, wow... Ha-ha yeah I'm quite overwhelmed ...Well, wow... Ha-ha yeah I'm quite overwhelmed right now as I've just (also) done a search on this subject. Initially I was seeking it's biblical premise to hopefully confirm it, and how and why. Of course I didn't find that, and rather just the reference to Mary. However I did find what is, in my opinion, the next best thing, this whole blog from inception to last comment. Just wow! Deborah, talk about rollercoasters, lol! No kidding I couldn't stop reading, through the comments and all. What a fascinating and, quite frankly, beautiful evolution (for the lack of a better word) of truth. Or.... truth I'm not sure is the proper word, but hopefully you feel me on this. You know what, how bout I say a beautiful evolution of the perpetual realization of truth, or sum'n like that. Ha-ha. PRAISE GOD in Jesus name. I just gotta say, and try to be done with this and not rant, that I hope EVERYONE searching this topic finds this blog and does exactly what I've done and reads straight on through to the very last comment! All brilliant! Thank you Deborah for your obvious dedication to only one thing that matters most, God, and His glory. It's evident in all of this that you are in tune all right! In tune and right on the money and I pray the Lord DOES bless you and yours! Lord bless your ministry or whatever you may feel more comfortable calling it. And if I'm mistaken and you are not a minister or have a ministry, then uh, lemme find out that THIS HAS MINISTERED TO ME like nobody's business, okay! I'm for real for real. And I already know it has to countless others, including those who commented, etc. Idk, just saying. 😬 But yes, praise God this has been so refreshing.<br />-TristanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-48913323890107689492016-01-31T15:02:26.421-05:002016-01-31T15:02:26.421-05:00It has been suggested that I explain the "apo...<br />It has been suggested that I explain the "apology" given in my previous comment. This, I believe, was good advice, and I am acting upon it.<br /><br />My apology is directed to any unnecessary frustration or hurt someone may feel after reading the original post and the follow up comments. The original idea doesn't require any apology.<br /><br />Why not?<br /><br />Because so much of what some look for as evidence of being "blessed and highly favored" is tied to what others may see, as opposed to who were are spiritually and how we are expressing the life of God in our lives.<br /><br />Those who are deeply humble, those who are truly giving, those who do not live by fear but by faith, those who change the world (or their corner of it) through their God-inspired prayers followed by their God-inspired actions: these people are among the blessed. It is my belief these are also the ones who don't spend any time or energy defining themselves as "blessed and highly favored."<br /><br />As I have written earlier, "highly" is a relative term and using it implies something is "lower". I do not doubt some may be blessed in different ways, but I think it's highly presumptuous to declare you are "highly favored" over someone else. Who knows this, and based on what facts can any human person know this? Why do you want to believe this about yourself? Are you not satisfied with the life and blessings God has provided? I believe if you are satisfied with the life God has offered---which is not always the same as the life you may currently experience--then there is no need for a relative comparison of yourself to someone else. <br /><br />In I Corinthians 11:31, St. Paul tells the Corinthian church that if they will judge themselves, they will not be judged. in the following verse, he goes on to say that when we <b>are</b> judged, we are chastened--or corrected--by the Lord so that we will not be condemned with the world.<br /><br />Judgment is an important spiritual ability that should not be ignored. Judgment, if God-led and directed, is a good thing. Wisely used, it will always serve and strengthen.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-28103596873447700042016-01-25T14:22:40.937-05:002016-01-25T14:22:40.937-05:00Since it's been over a month since "Anony...Since it's been over a month since "Anonymous" left their comment and there has been no response to my request for further comment from them, I will try to address the question of whether the article is "judging" anyone or anything unfairly.<br /><br />Judgment is a human quality, one that distinguishes us from other creatures who respond to stimuli and to the environment and do whatever they can in response to what is going on around them. Judging is not necessarily a bad thing if we refrain from imposing our viewpoints on those for whom we have no direct responsibility and no spiritual authority.<br /><br />I hope this article made the distinction between explaining God's word and me imposing my personal views on others. I attempted to do the former and not the latter.<br /><br />I think it's OK for Christians to discuss and share what God's word says about our lives and how we should live. We will not all have the same conclusions about every aspect of these things, and that's OK with me.<br /><br />Ultimately, everyone is answerable to and responsible to God for how we live, how we use the time, energy, and gifts He has given. In the end, His judgment is the only one that matters.<br /><br />I enjoy reading the ideas and perspectives of others. Through the lens of scripture, I take what I can from others' ideas. My goal as a student of scripture is to align my judgments with those of God and to become comfortable and happy living within those limitations and opportunities.<br /><br />If the article has offended anyone who feels unfairly judged by what is written, please accept my apologies.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-41346690801265548762015-12-21T11:46:30.132-05:002015-12-21T11:46:30.132-05:00Thanks for visiting the site, Anonymous. Will you ...Thanks for visiting the site, Anonymous. Will you share with us why you feel this way?Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-72745177558480494882015-12-21T10:47:48.270-05:002015-12-21T10:47:48.270-05:00This is the most judging article I've ever rea...This is the most judging article I've ever read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-60778656815298773802015-10-04T06:52:51.710-04:002015-10-04T06:52:51.710-04:00Very informative and well written article! I just ...Very informative and well written article! I just happened to quickly reply to someone who had just said that they were blessed and highly favored with the same response, but it made me feel uneasy because I don't usually say that. I personally feel it's redundant and unnecessary for me to declare what I think my actions/behavior already declare for me. <br />Long story short, I'm very glad that I read this article because now I have a better understanding both why people se this phrase. I did some research, and it first I thought that people we referring to a song by The Clark Sisters called "Blessed and Highly Favored" when they used that phrase. KJBrownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01982218062193681524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-37350936253253807222015-10-04T06:41:38.158-04:002015-10-04T06:41:38.158-04:00That was an excellent response to that contrarian....That was an excellent response to that contrarian. KJBrownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01982218062193681524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-3452138623580905872015-08-15T11:04:43.280-04:002015-08-15T11:04:43.280-04:00Hi - back again because you guessed it ;-)..someon...Hi - back again because you guessed it ;-)..someone on facebook continuously posts those words the few times they do post..it is 'blessed and highly favored'..I don't knwo what it is is..but it's akin to 'once saved always saved'..You gave a great answer too and thank you..Does that mean others are 'less blessed' and less favored? What does BLESSED actually mean in the context of the OLD Testament, such as NOAH was Blessed..it is there ..and Mary was Blessed..no where else to we see it except in Paul..though not sure where that is written. Many are called but few are chosen. As soon as I see "I am blessed an highly favored'..that person has lost credibility to some degree for some reason to me..it sounds arrogant...hey, what can I say..it just does. Paul said he was the least of all the apostles and considered anything outside of Christ rubbish to the Life of Love He came to Understand in Christ..you will know them by their fruits..He pointed to Christ, not himself. hmmm... (I searched on blessed and highly favored and guess where I ended up..back at your post again!)..Searched the scriptures and it is not actually written out anywhere in them...at all...) P.S. Let me added, "Name it and claim it" is meaningless..tell us what is His Name and what do you claim..that is not how it works at all..Seek and you shall find ask and it will be given (IN HIS TIME) 'Knock' and a door will be opened". Name and Claim, I am blessed and highly favored, is like the 'power of positive thinking' and the law of attraction genre of frankly.it sounds satanic. For Eve saw that the Tree was good for eating and eat of It she did..the fruit of deception. Just thoughts of course. I fear people do not know themselves as they ought at all, they do not see themselves as God does in our Sin.."Think not more highly of yourselves than you ought..." and "Everyone is right in their own mind"..let me say, the only way to be perfectly sane is to be totally out of your mind..one who is ought of their mind has nothing to say for themselves..did Jesus say anything when he was accused.. "I am blessed and highly favored said Jesus never..are we in Christ?"Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980724753973410660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-40928790706746523712015-08-10T16:56:39.167-04:002015-08-10T16:56:39.167-04:00Thanks for reading, Anoynmous.
I try to avoid cal...Thanks for reading, Anoynmous.<br /><br />I try to avoid calling people names, but I think I understand what you mean.<br /><br />Let's seek contentment with what God has given us, and focus on growing ourselves more and more based on the Bible. We're saved so that we can become conformed more and more to the image of Christ, so that we can love Him now and enjoy spending eternity with Him.<br /><br />If we're not conformed to His image, we are not going to enjoy spending eternity with Him.<br /><br />As Christians, whatever God wants to do in our lives is designed to make us more and more like Him. Sometimes that means we get what we want and sometimes we don't. We are blessed because of our love for God and our fellowship with Him. "Things" are tools to help us show and share the love of God. Hopefully, that will be enough for us if our purpose is to worship Him and witness to the world of His love and goodness.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-40745283937734751792015-08-10T00:14:30.075-04:002015-08-10T00:14:30.075-04:00Are you people stupid? The author is saying what a...Are you people stupid? The author is saying what any sane person has been thinking for years. You whores an't use that phrase, comparing yourselves to MAry of all people?! Most of you bats don't/didn't even know what part of the bible it's from. Know your lane and stay in it. You're nothing like Mary and will never be. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-17832870884614494352015-06-14T15:48:20.309-04:002015-06-14T15:48:20.309-04:00In my previous comment, I meant to write: ".....In my previous comment, I meant to write: "...immense blessings THAT can carry over...Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-55044691896452015222015-06-14T15:37:54.513-04:002015-06-14T15:37:54.513-04:00Thanks, Stephen!
You point out something I had no...Thanks, Stephen!<br /><br />You point out something I had not originally considered: if one is "highly favored", does this mean someone else can be "less" or "lowly" favored?<br /><br /> Doesn't God love all of his children equally and why would we think God would favor some more highly than others? <br /><br />Who is in a position to look at themselves or others and say who is "highly favored"? Why would you? Why would we think of placing ourselves above others?<br /><br />There is no Biblical basis for that type of thinking. Pride and self-elevation are dangerous.<br /><br />As I've posted in earlier comments, we already have immense spiritual blessings than can carry over into every part of our lives. We have these blessings because God has given them, not because we have done or said something great or special to earn them.<br /><br />We should definitely "slow down" and think twice when we begin to use terms like "high" or "highly favored" because we can't Biblically justify placing ourselves in a special, elevated (above others) category.<br /><br />Thanks again, Stephen, for your comments!Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-64991476216698324572015-06-14T15:13:43.397-04:002015-06-14T15:13:43.397-04:00It seems like claiming outwardly "I'm ble...It seems like claiming outwardly "I'm blessed and highly favored' is not far removed from stating one has a high degree of humility. As soon as it is stated you either lost it or lost credibility. Are we not to be Lights in the world by our actions and by Our Love? IT all sounds rather presumptuous..if two are in The LORD it's already understood. The short of it is it sounds either 1. tacky; or 2. like the name it and claim false gospel based on feelings and not reality...using scripture out of context as a habit is like saying vain repetitious prayers...just remember your audience.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01980724753973410660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575091289642272420.post-86916569329678460502015-03-10T20:15:48.108-04:002015-03-10T20:15:48.108-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Deborah Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08356558964613496230noreply@blogger.com