The Favor of God

God favored me By: Hezekiah Walker

Paul wrote concerning the promise of Abraham, Therefore it is
of faith, that it might be by grace (charis favor); to the end the promise might be sure
(certain, unfailing, and infallible) to all the seed (this means you and me!) (Rom 4:16).
You may not know exactly what belongs to you! You might not be experiencing the
sure (certain, unfailing, and infallible) promises of Abraham! If you don t know what
the promises of Abraham are then certainly you are not properly experiencing the promises
at this time. Therefore, it is time for you to begin to learn!
Once you really get a revelation that you are blessed in Abraham, you can begin to truly walk in God's favor. 

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 somedegree. 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:

• By praying unto the Lord (Job 33:26
  ).
• By keeping the commandments of the Lord (Proverbs 3:1-4).
• By seeking and finding God's wisdom (Proverbs 8:35
  ).
• By diligently seeking good (Proverbs 11:27
  ; 12:2
  ).
• By living righteously (Proverbs 14:9
  ).

There are many benefits of being in the favor of the Lord. Here are some of them:

• Our petitions are more likely to be granted (Esther 7:3
  ).
• God will compass us with a shield (Psalm 5:12
  ).
• We will receive life (Psalm 30:5
  ).
• Our enemies will not triumph over us (Psalm 41:11
  ).
• God will show mercy (Psalm 119:58
  ).

We can grow in favor both with God and with man-as did the child Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26
) and the child Jesus (Luke 2:52
). The phrase, to find favor in the eyes of, or, in the sight of, came from the Old Testament. Every saint of God should desire and seek to have favor in the eyes of the Lord. We grow in that favor as we faithfully live for the Lord.

However, this should not be looked upon as some sort of secret formula for getting everything we want. For purposes of His own, God sometimes takes those He loves through special trials. Job is the primary example but similar instances happen in the lives of many. However, if we continually draw closer to the Lord, we will come to dwell in His favor and in His favor is life (Psalm 30:5
).

The book of Haggai is a marvelous lesson on how to get and keep the blessing and favor of the Lord. In utter simplicity the prophet Haggai outlines how God's children can live and walk under God's continual blessing and favor.
Yet Haggai also shows the causes and reasons why people lose God's blessing - and what they must do to come back into His favor! This is true for nations, families, individuals.