Have you ever wondered why it seems the universe favors some people above others? Or why you keep ending up going in a circle on the roller coaster of life? These questions usually lead us to be offended with nature, the universe, or God. As I began to meditate on passages regarding favor, I noticed some interesting things that I felt were not unique to me, rules of the universe, if you will. I'm excited to share these nuggets with you, and I hope it releases some blockages you may have in your connection with God.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
“AGAINST SPIRITUAL FORCES”
It is interesting to think that there are spiritual, unseen forces in the heavenly realm, some for us, some against us, at work all the time. Another verse that puts it in a difference way is in Ephesians 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”
So we see there are "powers" if you will, at work for us, and against us at the same time. These forces are not completely uncontrollable by men, as with earthquakes or tornadoes, but because the supernatural God lives in us, we can partner with Him and play a role in them.
First and foremost, favor comes from God. I have been given favor from God, unique to me, and available to no one else. Likewise, you have been granted favor from God that is unique to you and cannot be transferred to anyone else. Just like an airline ticket- you can change the dates, the destination, pay more, but they will not transfer the owner of that ticket to anyone else.
“You have granted me favor and life”
It's done. It's finished. It belongs to you. Breathe that in for a moment. Slow down and consider this: You will never have more than what is already yours. As one of my favorite preachers, Corey Russell says, "It's like you’re knocking on a door to a room that you are already on the inside of."
I've have experienced this favor in my own life, this supernatural force. People drawn to me, to love me, to care for me and my family, and even to bless me. It's not that I'm exceptionally lovable or how well I'm behaving, but everything to do with how well I'm connected with God.
Then there are those times when nothing feels like it’s clicking. You know what I mean? Times where you feel alone, unloved, and like you can't do anything right- the universe just isn't on your side today. Your declaring "His mercies are new every morning", but then next day is just as bad as the day before. So how do we partner with this spiritual force and get in alignment with God again?
The secret of HUMILITY
I have experienced that the force of favor operates in the vein of humility. I am convinced that favor is dormant unless activated by humility. In other words, as soon as pride rears it’s ugly head out, favor evaporates into the environment, gone, just like that.
I can point to times in my life where I have seen pride creep up and the favor disappear. Pride is a little voice inside your head that says things like, "You could do that better", "You should have been chosen for that position", or "They don't realize how good you really are". When you are envious, or desire something that isn't yours (the favor belonging to someone else), not only do you not attain the thing which you desire, but you exchange your own God-given favor at the same time and end up empty. It feels like the favor of God has completely left you, and perhaps it did go away for a moment, but I want to encourage you, it's not gone forever, remember, it belongs to you and only you. And when you get aligned rightly with God, He'll release it back to you, after all, it’s yours for your life. (Proverbs 12:2, Luke 2:52)
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
FAVOR FOR LIFE
This verse really encouraged me. Seasons come and go, but favor of God is for our lifetime. It is an anchor, meaning, we can get realigned and come back to it. When the favor of God seems displaced through your pride, hardening of heart, or even sinful entanglements, remember that you can always realigned with God and feel the current of being in the streams of living water again. Being aligned with the favor of God is like feeling the life of the spirit flow in you, and out through you. It feels like movement, very good movement. It's that "good hair day" feeling. Have you ever experienced that? One of those day's where you feel like, "I don't care what anyone does, nothing can ruin this day!" Everyday walking in the favor of God might not feel that way, but you get the picture.
FAVOR IS UNTO THE KINGDOM
Favor of God is not for personal gain. I want to be clear here. We don't, or shouldn't, desire the favor of God to be activated in our lives so that we can become rich and famous and enjoy worldly wealth. That may happen in the process of operating in the favor of God, but that can never be the motivator. The motivator for favor operating in full force will always be the passion to see the Kingdom expanded, period.
“With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
The favor they received, from men and God, was unto many coming to Christ. The kingdom was expanded as a result of the believers being first of all, in unity with one another, and secondly they were focused, with sincere hearts. Their eyes were on the needs of one another, not themselves. This is very important. Take a moment and ask the Lord to examine your heart. Do you feel the favor of God is in your life? Consider repenting of any pride, envy, bitterness, or resentment which can be a blockage to that God has uniquely purposed for you to receive.
GET REALIGNED
I want to give you a secret to re-aligning with the favor of God for your life. In Psalm 30:5, as previously mentioned, we see that "His anger is for a moment, but His favor is for life." When there is a nugget in scripture like that, I like to look at the "package" it is wrapped in, the bookends if you will, the passages before an after it. Remember, in the Hebrew text the words, sentences, and paragraphs are not always in that same order. You have to grasp the whole thought. Look at the verses surrounding verse 5.
“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.”
Realignment begins with thanksgiving. As you begin to thank God and praise Him, truly and sincerely from the depths of your heart, the spiritual fog will begin to fade and you will get vision again. You will begin seeing and hearing in the spirit. The spiritual weather will begin to shift, and you will find your bearings again. You will see that He hasn't gone anywhere, you got turned around in the fog. The result? Joy comes in the morning.
REFLECTIONS
Take time this week to chew on the passages of scripture. Think about ways you can get in stronger, better alignment with God.
Are you accessing your unique favor?
Are there times in the past you can remember where this was active in your life?
Think about a time when you felt you were in that “current” with the Lord and begin simple meditation and thanksgiving around His activity in your life. As the Holy Spirit leads you, repent of anything that could be a blockage and ask the Lord to draw close to you and fill you again.