By: Sister Bridgette Franklin


I remember just like it was yesterday when I bought my house. It was my first house and it was extremely stressful, especially going through it alone. I remember telling God that the only names I wanted on that deed were His and mine. He granted my request.  I had looked at many homes and had bid on one in particular, I REALLY wanted this house. I fasted and prayed but lost the bid to a higher bidder. I then saw another house that already had white carpet in it (which I desired), I went back and forth with the seller to no avail…wow didn’t get that one either.  I just didn’t know that the house He wanted me to have was right in front of me.  The Realtor I had was selling her home as her and her husband were planning to buy a friend’s home.  I could not see the beauty in this house because it was cluttered, but when I looked back after purchasing it I found something.   What I found was a large index card stuck in my bible placed in Habakkuk, Chapter 2, regarding writing a vision on a tablet.  On this card it had EXACTLY what I described I wanted in a home some 5 years earlier, with the exception of a fourth bedroom and a basement which God must have believed I did not need.

I looked back some more and realized God had done some serious intervening on my behalf. The first home deteriorated because of poor quality, the second home had a roof collapse one week after I moved into my new home amongst other things.  I realized that not only did I receive God’s favor in being approved for a home that I could only dream of  qualifying for, but also for his hedge of protection regarding which home I buy. This has happened many times when God made a way out of no way. I love to reminisce about those times because it encourages me through the rough patches.  Sometimes favor ain’t fair.  When someone else gets it you wonder what you are doing wrong. When you get it, favor incites jealousy among family and friends. However, the Word tells me “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.” – Proverbs 10:22 Does this contradict the issues we deal with when God grants us favor? No. God tells us His blessings and favor won’t come with sorrow, but He did not say that others won’t trip. You know what I mean.

God blesses whomever He chooses, whenever He chooses, and when it is your turn, it is what it is. Embrace His favor, ask for His favor. I want those blessings that are stored up in heaven stamped “unclaimed”. I have went through it on both sides.  I lived in my one bedroom apartment for 8 years before God blessed me with my house. I saw people prospering, moving, getting promoted, elevated, whereas I was stagnant, so I thought.  God was prepping me for His blessing. God was observing my obedience, my faithfulness, my patience. He also saw my tears, my frustration, my times of depression. Sometimes we suffer but it doesn’t mean we don’t have God’s favor. We may be suffering for doing good in an evil world, but God has not forgotten, He has an excellent memory !!! Timing is everything !! “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1. You want to be on God’s watch, not on your own.

I will close with the scripture that is posted on my refrigerator to this day. I wrote it down one month before I closed on my house 9/29/2004.

“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:25-29 (key vs. 28-29)  “…..so the Lord preserved David wherever he went” – 2 Samuel 8:6

Be blessed in His Name. Selah.