Favor
What does it mean to have The Favor of God?
To favor means, “to give special regard to; to treat with goodwill; to show exceptional kindness to someone. Sometimes, it means to show extra kindness in comparison to the treatment of others; that is, preferential treatment.”
It is from this use of favor that we get the word, “favorite”. The greatest favors are shown to the favorite. Ex., “that is my favorite student! That is my favorite teacher! That is my favorite friend!”
This insinuates there is a difference, and sometimes it can’t be explained in words. My personal belief is that people can say what they want about favor, but there is a price to pay to have favor smeared on your life. That price is Obedience!
I am reminded of the story of Joseph, and although I am not going to go into detail here, it was undoubtedly so that favor rested upon his life. However, even in the midst of the favor resting upon him he had to pay a tremendous price on order for others to realize it was there. Many believers (to me) aren’t willing to pay such a price.
Another Biblical example of Favor was Esther. Esther received royal favor above all the other virgins (Esther 2:17), and the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
How favor and fasting connects is this. When a person fasts they get Gods attention, and that individual begins to do things that will please the Lord. In doing so, it is like a breath of fresh air being sent up to heaven in the nostrils of God. He then in turn begins to reciprocate the same but in ways that will now allow others to grant you attention, access and all sorts of things.
When the heart of God is touched by an individual, God will move on that persons behalf very quickly.
• Favor will allow doors that were closed tightly to open immediately!
• Favor will allow you to obtain a position that you were not even qualified to have!
• Favor will allow your enemies to be made your footstool!
• Favor will allow you to connect to great people!
• Favor will just plain and simple Make people Like You just because!
• Favor steps in when there is a “Lack of Skill”!
But it is also sad, that when there was once favor and now the favor has been removed because some of the examples that are mentioned above are now the opposite.
When a person fasts, this allows Favor to literally fall from heaven!
However, favor is not always used in a comparative way toward others. It sometimes simply means that the one favored is shown kindness and treated with a generosity and goodwill far beyond what would normally be expected. This is generally the favor that we receive from the Lord. We are treated much better than we could expect. Of course, every believer is favored to some degree. Therefore, we must understand God’s favor in degrees. The more we please God, the more we will be favored by Him. Also, it is important not to think of this favor in material or worldly terms. God’s favor, most likely, will be given in spiritual blessings more than in material blessings. Here are some of the ways by which we obtain the favor of the Lord:
Scriptures On God’s Favor
And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to
prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, Genesis 39:3–4
You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit. Job 10:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor. You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:5–6
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:25–26
A faithful man shall abound with blessings” Proverbs 28:20
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:4–6
Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. Psalm 103:4–5
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:22–23
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46–47
… For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. Romans 5:15
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, Ephesians 1:7–8
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17
And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:14
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I pray you enjoyed this blog post. This post on
"FAVOR"
was taken from my book Fasting for Breakthrough!
To Order a copy
Lenika Scott
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