May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
   establish the work of our hands for us—
   yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

This is now an answered prayer. In the Old Testament, it was a whispered hope. “May this please happen. . . .” God’s people were still looking for the lasting atonement, a sacrifice that did not need to be repeated year after year. They still walked a tight rope of law and mercy. They yearned for the irrevocable favor that could not, would not be lost because of their behavior.  God’s mercy was certainly irrevocable. But they were very aware that their behavior, their sin, their choices had to be paid for. A blood payment.

Today through the eternal, once for all, blood payment of Jesus, the tight rope was broken. What pre-Christ saints could only hope for, we can boldly dance in —  the favor of the Lord. We could re-write that verse:

The favor of the Lord our God rests on us;
He establishes the work of our hands for us —
Yes, He has established the work of our hands.

Here are some word dissections. Favor also means “beauty.”  The beauty of the Lord our God rests on us. We don’t have to work it up, which means we can’t lose it. His beauty lays on top of us, covers us, is on us in every way, every area. Establish means “to make permanent.”  He makes permanent the works of our hands for us. We matter to Him. Our efforts matter in the eternal scope of the world, for our works are ultimately His works.

Of course the enemy would have you only see your weakness and sin. You know why? Because if he can make you think you still have to get it right, you are, in effect, discrediting the Cross. It is the Cross that crucifies the question, “How do I make this right?”  Jesus is the only way to make anything right and it is the joy of the Holy Spirit to now lead you in the path of God’s favor.

Are you still living Old Testament favor? Worried that God is mad, or will be? That you are still needing atonement or might fall off the tight rope? Are you still begging God for mercy?

Or are you dancing in the overwhelming reality that His favor is 100% ours because of the blood payment of Jesus? How will you step into your life differently today just because you know the beauty of the Almighty God covers you, rests on you like a royal robe? He loves you. He likes you. He favors you. This is the permanent work of His nail-pierced hands.