In our journey of faith, recognizing and understanding the “Favor of the Lord” is crucial for living not only a fulfilling life but also a life that aligns with our higher purpose and calling. This divine favor acts as a guiding light, steering us through the trials and tribulations we may face, and empowering us to embrace the blessings that come our way. Pastors David and Amber Bendett, through their insightful teachings and personal experiences, delve deeply into the true essence of divine favor.
Table of Contents
The Role of Praise in Favor
Praise is not just a response to God’s goodness; it is also a catalyst for His favor. When we live a life of worship and praise, we align ourselves with God’s heart and purposes. This alignment opens the door for divine favor to manifest in our lives.
Psalm 67:5-7 illustrates this beautifully. It says, “Let the people praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him.” Praise leads to increase and blessings, which in turn bring a reverence for God among the people.
When we focus on praising God, we take the spotlight off ourselves and place it on Him. This shift in focus allows God’s favor to flow more freely, as our motives become aligned with His kingdom purposes. Our lives become a testament to His goodness, drawing others to Him.
Three Purposes of Favor
Understanding the purposes of God’s favor helps us to steward it well. Here are three key purposes:
Favor Blesses Others: God’s favor on your life is not just for you; it’s designed to bless those around you. Whether it’s through your resources, influence, or opportunities, the favor you receive should extend to others, bringing them closer to God.
Favor Forms God’s Nature in You: The favor of the Lord is a tool for character development. It shapes you to look more like Christ, embodying His love, grace, and humility. This internal transformation is crucial for fulfilling God’s purposes.
Favor Demonstrates God’s Power: When people see the favor of God in your life, it serves as a testimony to His power and goodness. It creates a healthy fear of the Lord, encouraging others to seek Him.
The Story of Joseph: A Journey of Favor
‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]. ‘
Genesis 50:20 AMP
Joseph’s story is a powerful example of how God’s favor operates. Initially, his dreams were centered on himself, causing jealousy and strife among his brothers. However, these dreams were the beginning of a journey that would ultimately bless many.
Joseph’s favor led him through a series of challenging circumstances, including being sold into slavery and imprisoned. Despite these hardships, God’s favor was evident. In Potiphar’s house, Joseph’s presence brought blessings, and even in prison, he found favor with the warden.
These experiences were not just tests but tools for character formation. Joseph’s journey refined him, removing pride and preparing him for greater responsibilities. Ultimately, his favor was not for his own gain but for the salvation of many, including his own family.
God’s Nature and Character Formation through Favor
One of the most profound purposes of favor is the formation of God’s nature within us. This process often involves adversity, which serves to refine and purify our character. Just as Joseph’s trials prepared him for leadership, our challenges shape us to reflect Christ more accurately.
Favor is not just about receiving blessings; it’s about becoming a blessing. As we grow in favor, we should also grow in humility, love, and service. This transformation makes us effective vessels for God’s purposes, allowing His nature to be seen through us.
Adversity as a Part of the Favor Journey
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;”
-1 Peter 4:12 NKJV
Adversity is often misunderstood as a sign of God’s absence or displeasure. However, it is frequently a component of the favor journey. God uses difficult circumstances to develop our character and deepen our reliance on Him.
Jesus, the ultimate example of favor, experienced immense suffering. His life teaches us that favor does not exempt us from hardship but equips us to endure it with grace and purpose. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, showcasing the ultimate purpose of favor: to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.
Similarly, our adversities are opportunities for growth and greater alignment with God’s will. When we embrace this perspective, we can navigate challenges with faith and confidence, knowing that God’s favor is at work in us and through us.
Changing Perspectives on Favor
“2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. “
-James 1:2-3
To fully embrace the favor of the Lord, we must change our perspectives. Favor is not a guarantee of an easy life; rather, it is an invitation to participate in God’s greater story. It calls us to look beyond our personal gain and consider how we can use our blessings to advance God’s kingdom.
When we understand that favor is about God’s purposes, we can steward it more effectively. This mindset shift allows us to navigate life’s ups and downs with a sense of purpose and mission, knowing that everything we experience is part of God’s divine plan.
Ultimately, favor is about reflecting God’s glory. As we grow in favor, let us strive to make His name known, using our lives as a testimony to His goodness and grace.
Finding Favor in Difficult Times
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”
-Psalms 119:71
Life’s trials often bring us to our knees, challenging our faith and resilience. However, it is precisely in these moments that we can witness the profound “Favor of the Lord.” When we encounter hardship, it’s natural to question God’s presence. Yet, it’s during these times that His favor becomes most evident, providing us with strength, comfort, and a deeper understanding of His love.
Consider the story of losing a child. It’s an unimaginable pain, one that tests the very core of our being. Yet, even in such a dark moment, God’s favor can shine through. It manifests in the people He sends to support us, the unexpected acts of kindness, and the peace that surpasses understanding. This is the true essence of divine favor – His unwavering presence and care, even when we feel most alone.
Favor isn’t always about prosperity or success. Sometimes, it looks like a comforting nurse, a supportive friend, or the strength to face another day. It’s about experiencing God’s care and love in the midst of our suffering. When we recognize this, we can find comfort in knowing that we are never truly alone, and that God’s favor is always with us, even in our darkest hours.
The Impact of Response on Favor
Our response to life’s challenges significantly impacts how we experience God’s favor. It’s easy to become bitter or despondent when things don’t go our way. However, choosing to trust in God’s plan and respond with faith can open the door to greater blessings and growth.
For instance, after enduring the loss of a child, one might choose to retreat into sorrow. But by responding with faith and seeking God’s purpose in the pain, we can find new avenues for growth and ministry. This is a powerful testament to the transformative power of favor – it turns our trials into opportunities for deeper connection with God and greater impact on others.
Think of how this response can move the heart of God. When we remain steadfast in our faith, even amidst adversity, we demonstrate our trust in His plan. This kind of faith can lead to profound personal transformation and a greater outpouring of God’s favor in our lives.
Marriage and Favor
Marriage is a unique journey that often involves significant challenges. It’s a relationship that requires constant growth, humility, and a willingness to lay down one’s own desires for the sake of the other. However, it’s also a relationship that can be a profound source of God’s favor.
Scripture tells us, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). This verse highlights the divine favor inherent in the marital relationship. Yet, this favor doesn’t mean a life free from struggle. Rather, it means that through the trials of marriage, we have the opportunity to grow more Christ-like in our love and service to one another.
Marriage teaches us to die to self, to forgive, and to love unconditionally. These lessons, though often difficult, are a direct manifestation of God’s favor. They shape us into better versions of ourselves, more aligned with His image. Thus, the favor of marriage is not just in the joy it brings, but in the character it builds.
Trials and the Growth of Character
Trials are an inevitable part of life, but they are also a crucial component of our spiritual growth. Through adversity, we learn patience, resilience, and a deeper reliance on God. These qualities are the fruits of divine favor, cultivated through life’s challenges.
Consider Joseph’s journey once more. His trials – being sold into slavery, unjust imprisonment – were not signs of God’s absence, but rather tools for his development. These experiences refined Joseph, preparing him for the monumental task of saving a nation. Similarly, our trials are not meaningless; they are opportunities for God to shape us for His purposes.
James 1:2-4 encourages us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” This perspective transforms our understanding of favor. It’s not about a life free from hardship, but about the growth and blessings that come through it.
The Assignment that Comes with Favor
Favor is not just a blessing to be enjoyed; it comes with a divine assignment. When God bestows His favor upon us, it is often because He has a specific purpose for our lives. This purpose requires our active participation and willingness to follow His lead.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a prime example. She found favor with God and was chosen to bear the Savior of the world. Her response, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), exemplifies the attitude we should have towards our divine assignments. Her willingness to surrender to God’s plan allowed His redemptive purpose to be fulfilled through her.
Noah, Esther, and many others in the Bible also received favor accompanied by significant responsibilities. Their willingness to accept these assignments led to remarkable outcomes. In our lives, we must be open to God’s direction, understanding that His favor comes with a call to action.
Living in Surrender to God’s Will
Surrender is the key to fully experiencing and stewarding God’s favor. It involves laying down our own plans and desires, and embracing God’s will for our lives. This act of surrender enables us to partner with God in His greater purpose, allowing His favor to flow through us.
Living a surrendered life means trusting God with the outcome. It’s about doing the next right thing He asks of us, no matter how small it may seem. When we live this way, we open ourselves up to the fullness of God’s favor, as He can work His purposes through our willingness to obey.
Jesus is our ultimate example of a surrendered life. He only did what the Father told Him to do, demonstrating complete dependence on God. As we follow His example, we too can grow in favor with God and men, fulfilling our divine assignments and bearing fruit for His kingdom.
Conclusion and Prayer for Favor
Understanding and embracing the “Favor of the Lord” transforms our perspective on life’s challenges and blessings. Favor is not just about receiving good things; it’s about becoming more like Christ, serving others, and fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives.
As we navigate our journeys, let us remember that God’s favor is with us, even in the darkest times. Let us respond to our trials with faith, knowing that they are shaping us for greater things. And let us live surrendered lives, open to the assignments God has for us, trusting that His plan is always for our good.
Lord, we thank You for Your unfailing favor. Help us to recognize it in every circumstance, both good and bad. Strengthen us in our trials, and guide us in our divine assignments.
May we always surrender to Your will, trusting in Your perfect plan.
Amen.