The Favor of the Lord

I love it when I'm the favorite, but not so much when someone else is shown favor at my expense.  

In my life, I have known what it is like to be both the favorite and the invisible person in the room.  If it were up to me, being the favorite is my preferred choice of treatment.   

In large families, it can be nearly impossible to get floor time, you have to fight to be heard.  At times, this can cause people to talk over one another.  

I speak from experience here, so sorry to all those in my life that I’ve talked over because of my need to be heard.   

I remember the first time I heard this phrase prayed over someone at the altar; I pray that you will know The Favor of the Lord.  

I thought it was brilliant, and I wanted to pray that over everyone, and have it prayed over me.  The very thought of having the favor of the Lord was thrilling.  I wanted Jesus on my side at all times, and I wanted to receive the kind of special treatment only He could give.

I may sound a bit needy here, but come on, how special is it to be hand-picked by Jesus and then be shown His special favor.  

Daniel knew what this was like.  He was in captivity in Babylon, but even in his distress, God showed him special favor.

Daniel 1:9, says; Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.

Jesus also knows a little something about favor.  In Luke 2:52 it says, And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Here is a definition of favor; to give unfairly preferential treatment to someone. 

In other words, it's favor we don't deserve, but we get it just the same.  This sounds a lot like grace—unmerited favor.

Daniel didn't deserve this favor.  He was a prisoner.  Yet, through God’s mercy, the officials showed him special favor.  

Why did the officials do this?  Because first and foremost Daniel had the favor of the Lord.

If you're like me, you probably want to know how you can get some of this undeserved favor.  

Here's how, when we come into a relationship with Jesus through salvation, He in return will bless, guide, and protect His children.  That doesn't mean our lives will be perfect without any form of suffering but knowing we are favored is to know that God is with us, and in control, no matter what we are facing.  

When you come to the full understanding that God is God, and He is still in control of our lives both in the good times and the bad then you'll better understand some of these familiar Bible stories.

• God was still in control when Daniel was in the lion’s den.
• God was still in control when Joseph was in prison and also when he was in the palace.  
• God was still in control when Elisha was fleeing for his life and also when the raven fed him at the brook. 
• God was still in control when David was tending the sheep in his father's fields and He was also in control when he slew the giant.
• God was still in control when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was on her knees at the foot of the cross.  And He's still in control today!

It's time to stop second-guessing, and take hold of this truth; you are HIS favorite.

You have The Favor of The Lord.

Trust Him.