For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. -Psalm 5:12

This week’s verse paints a peaceful picture of how God’s favor protects and provides for us. As believers, we can come to God confidently, trusting His favor to keep His promises to us.

Sometimes, Christians feel they don’t deserve God’s favor because of mistakes they’ve made or hardships they’ve faced. But here’s the truth: no one earns God’s favor through their actions! We must remind ourselves that feelings of shame and unworthiness don’t come from God. They come from the enemy who wants to steal our joy and destroy our hope. Jesus came to give us abundant life, not to make us feel unworthy or condemned.

Colossians 1:12 encourages us to thank God because He has qualified us to share in His blessings. And Ephesians 1:7 reminds us that through Jesus, our sins are forgiven because of God’s grace. This means we are made right with God not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has done for us. The same is true for God’s favor.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t deserve God’s favor, it’s time to shift your mindset. Begin each day by thanking God for His favor and believing that it is at work in your life. You will sense a shift as you align yourself with God’s word and speak positively about yourself. When negative thoughts or doubts arise, remind yourself of God’s promises and reject those negative thoughts.

Expect good things to happen because God’s favor surrounds you like a shield!