Praise be to the Lord who has extended his good favour to me.
Ezra 7:28
Every child of God needs the favour of God upon his/her life. The favour of God takes a believer to places where money and qualifications cannot take. The favour of God will bring opportunities into your life which skill and hard work cannot bring. If all you have has only come through toil and sweat, then you are leading a very difficult life. What hard work and sweat cannot bring into your life, the favour of God will bring into your life.
There are times in the calendar of God when He steps in to favour His children. Your days will never be the same. The word of God tells us that there is a time when God shows favour to His children. This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favour I will answer you (Isaiah 49:8). Isaiah 61:2 talks about “the year of the Lord’s favour.” Psalms 102:13 says, “You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favour to her; the appointed time has come.” Without the favour of God we will find it difficult to make it in our society where wickedness and corruption abound. Dear Child of God, one touch of God’s favour will turn everything around in your life.
WHAT IS THE FAVOUR OF GOD?
Someone described the favour of God in the following way: (1) It is the power of God behind a believer which prepares the ground for success (2) It is the grace of God which enables a believer to rise above competitive and negative forces (3) It is to be given preferential and special treatment as compared to others. Many people in the Bible operated in the favour of God.
- When someone is selected for something good among many qualified counterparts, he/she is enjoying the favour of God. For instance, Esther was selected among several other beautiful ladies that are qualified to be the queen (Esther 2: 15-17). Ruth was a foreigner and a widow but had favour and married Boaz and became the grandmother of David and great grandmother of our Lord Jesus (Ruth 2:2,10,13)
- When a man is chosen for the position he is not naturally qualified for, especially among others that are far better than him, he is experiencing the favour of God. David was the most unqualified person naturally in his family, but God rejected others to look for him (1 Samuel 16: 11-13)
- When a man seeks the face of God in prayer and has all his request granted, he is living in the favour of God. A very good example is the account of Jabez (1Chronicles 4: 9-10)
- When help is made available to a man at a time and from a place he least expected, he is walking in the favour of God. Like the case of the man waiting at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years ( John 5: 1-15)
WALKING IN THE FAVOUR OF GOD
The favour of God is manifested in diverse areas of our lives. The Lord will help you to walk in his favour in the following areas in this year
- Medical Favour
If you are sick and you are considered incurable and you find favour with God, you will suddenly discover that the incurable will begin to have a testimony. In John 5:2-9, there was a multitude by the pool of Bethesda. Jesus came there; saw a man who had been there for 38 years. His face shone on that man. He went to that man, healed that man and left the place. There were several others. Divine Favour singled out that man for a miracle.
We read the story of healing of Namaan in 2 Kings 5:1-14. But Jesus said something in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Samaria in the time of Elisha, only one was cleansed! How many? One! Out of the many, one found favour. The favour of God will single you out for a miracle this year!
- MATERIAL Favour
When you find favour with God, suddenly, whatever you touch begins to prosper and people will begin to wonder how? Divine Favour can give you just one contract and all of a sudden for the rest of your life you can enjoy. In Luke 5:1-7, we read that Jesus was preaching by the seaside. He saw two boats. One belonged to Peter. One belonged to somebody else and by favour of God it was Peter’s boat that was chosen. When God decided to favour you, you cannot escape the blessings whether you like it or not. If He says, ‘I’m going to prosper you!” Prosperity will come! Someone said, “A day of favour is worth more than years of labour!”
- MARITAL Favour
If you have been considered barren and God decides to favour you, suddenly those who have been laughing against you will begin to laugh with you. That is what happened to Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:9-20. Now when you read Proverbs 18:22, the Bible says whosoever finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favour of God. If you are looking for a life partner, you will find one. If you are barren, you’ll have children. Praise the Lord!
- MENTAL Favour
When God decides to favour you mentally suddenly you begin to have wisdom that you never can explain. You know Daniel 2:20-22 tells us that wisdom belongs to God and He gives wisdom to the wise. We learn that Daniel had so much favour with the leaders of the land; he was elevated to prestigious positions in the Babylonian kingdom. You will find that when God decides to favour somebody mentally, he has a wisdom he himself cannot explain.
- MINISTERIAL Favour
Everyone born again Christian is a minister of God. All you need is favour from God to impact the lives of the people. When a minister finds favour with God, it becomes easy for him to do the work of God. He will preach a simple sermon and souls will be saved. When you find favour with God, any door you knock will open (1 Corinthians 16:9). When I say ministerial favour, I also mean any work that God has assigned for you to do. You will be successful and victorious in your work. The Bible says that King David and King Hezekiah had success in all their undertakings (1 Samuel 18:5, 14; 2 Kings 18:7).
- MANIFOLD Favour
Manifold favour is all round favour. When we study about the man called Joseph, we can find that he had all-round favour. He had medical favour since he lived long with good health (Gen. 50:22). He had material favour. If you read Genesis 45:4-13, Joseph said, “God has made me Lord of all Egypt.” And he sent to his father and said, “Come with all your family. I will feed you for the rest of your life.” What about mental favour? If we read Genesis 41:39, Joseph was referred to here by Pharaoh who said, “There is no one so discerning and wise as you.” What about marital favour? He was blessed with a virtuous wife (Gen. 41:45). He didn’t even have to look for a wife – one was given him! He had favour! He was blessed with two sons. And if we read Genesis 48:8-20, we can discover that in the home of Joseph there was peace, there was harmony. What about ministerial favour? As far as Joseph was concerned, everything he touched prospered. Joseph was successful in every task that was given to him (Gen. 39:2-4, 21-22). He was eventually elevated to the position of a Prime Minister and became a blessing to nations!
Dearly beloved,God’s favour is not automatic nor does it come through wishful thinking. It flows out of a consistent and healthy relationship with God. It comes through continuing in total obedience to the word of God. Release your faith and divine favour will invade your life. (Psalm 102:13). The time has come for God to show his favour to his children (Psalm 102:13). The favour of God will bring unexpected blessings from unexpected places and people at an unexpected time. All that you’ve lost will be restored. All the enemy has taken from you will come back double. Total restoration and recovery will come your way! I wish that you may enjoy the season of God’s favour in 2015!
