Favor

​Favor is an awesome word.
Favor is about advantage, attention, preference, partiality, friendliness, a kind act, good deed, approval and a host of other synonyms that mean special treatment.
I was counseling a young lady a few years ago who was emotionally reeling from an extremely painful, heartbreaking divorce. I asked her who she was in Christ. Without hesitation she confidently declared with a big smile “I am His favorite because I have His favor.”
Her response warmed my heart. God’s favor means Christians, you and me, are his favorites. Maybe we should wear a badge that says, “I am God’s favorite!” Just saying!
I do not know about you, but Steve likes being favored! Favor feels good, really good!
It is a biblical fact: favor belongs to God’s people.
Here are a handful of scriptures regarding favor from the Lord.
For he who finds me (wisdom) finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 8:35
“A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, but He will condemn a man who devises evil.” Proverbs 12:2
“Good understanding produces favor, but the way of the treacherous is hard.” Proverbs 13:15
“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22
“It is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord; You surround him with favor as a shield.” Psalm 5:12
“And Jesus was increasing in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52
God favors His people in every area of life. I certainly have found favor from the Lord as He gave me a “good thing” in my wife Jo Ann!
His favor is like a shield covering, protecting, and guarding us as we walk by faith in this life. I feel secure when I live my life shielded by God’s favor. What or who can penetrate the favor shield?  
The Son of God, Jesus, was favored by His Father in heaven.
During His earthly ministry Jesus was favored by God repeatedly. Even men, some who struggled to believe in Him, favored Jesus. God’s only Son was favored all the way to the Cross and Empty Tomb.
Favor is relationship based.
When someone asks you to do them a favor, what does that mean? I believe it means, because you and I have a special relationship, we trust one another and help each other when needed. Favor is what friends extend to friends.
As the head of the Roll family, my family has favor with me based on our relationships.
My wife, children and grandchildren have advantage, favor, special treatment from dear old Dad and Doodah. They receive from me and get to do things with me others do not get to. Because they carry the Roll name, they have favor with father Roll!
Honestly, I love showering favor on my “favorites”. What an unspeakable joy it is for me to extend special advantage to them because I love them and they love me. 
What does God’s favor mean in real, every life? Favor means we are protected, preserved and sustained. Favor means we go to the head of the line. Favor means our application for employment gets special attention. Favor means we get bargains and deals. Favor means people go out of their way to help and serve us.
God’s favor means we really are “the head and not the tail, above and not beneath when we obey God’s commandments.” Deuteronomy 28:13   
How in the world can our ungodly, unrighteous, evil, anti-Christ culture harm a Christian who is shielded by the favor of Almighty God? Meditate on that for a while. The shield of God’s favor keeps the Evil One and his evil minions at bay.  
My friend, you as a child of Almighty God, are favored by Him.  You, yes you, are His favorite.
As one of His favorites, I encourage you to walk with bold, confident, victorious faith in His favor every day!
Where do you need favor in your life? Why not ask God for it? He will favor you because you are His kid!
When you head out the door each day declare “Watch out world. Here I come. I am one of God’s favorites because of His favor as my Heavenly Father.  
“And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us: and do confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.” Psalms 90:17
A Word For Your Week: God’s favor is yours today.