When I hear the word ‘favor’, I immediately feel an uneasiness. I most often hear it in the context of a question. “Hey, can you do me a favor?” An instant hesitancy stirs up as I wait to hear how much of me will be demanded when the “favor” is laid out there. Yes there are times when I am happy to do someone a favor, but more often than not- if I am honest-my willingness lies in contingency with whatever is being requested. Many times this word also holds an unsaid expectation. If I do a favor for you, my hope is that a favor will be returned for me.
If you are around church for any length of time, you will most likely hear a message on or at least read about God’s favor in the Bible. What I love about our Maker is that we are made in His image, but He so amazes me at His character that far surpasses ours! He doesn’t give like we give. He doesn’t love like we love. And His definition of favor is not like ours either. God gives us favor in the form of a free gift! As all of the Lord’s gifts to His children are, He gives us divine favor- freely– through grace! The Bible talks about God’s favor as a gift that the He gives, simply because we are His! His favor is full of protection, provision, blessing, and abundance. And the beauty of this gift is that it is released to us when we believe in His promises and proclaim them over our lives. There is no payback or debt owed with the Lord. Jesus already paid that price for us on the Cross!
God’s favor is mentioned countless times throughout the Bible- the common denominator in His favor being- faith. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Noah, Abel, David, Solomon, Job, Paul, Mary, Jesus, and many others- received God’s favor because they had Great Faith! We will never have the Lord’s favor without it! But how amazing a gift it is, when we believe in His power and promise to pour favor over our lives and receive the bounty of our Most High King!!
With love- April
Psalm 5:12- For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Proverbs 8:35- For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.