Go "FoG" Yourself...Seek and Receive the Favor of God Over Your Life

"You have not because you ask not." James 4:2

This post is about how to attract God's favor into your life. In the Bible, favor can be used interchangeably with grace and blessings. A secular dictionary would define favor as preference, support, approval, kindness, goodwill, above and beyond, special treatment, etc. All of these are available to believers in Christ Jesus if they will only ask and then through faith receive the favor, blessings, grace and benefits Jesus paid for with His blood over 2000 years ago.

Do you truly believe that God loves you and wants to bless you with His favor? Too many believers don't feel worthy of God's favor and blessings, but numerous scriptures tell us otherwise. In John 10:10, Jesus said..."I came that you may have life, and to the full (abundant.)" Luke 12: 28, ... "He (God) will certainly care for you." Luke 12:31, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need." The Bible is full of amazing promises of blessings and favor for believers in Christ Jesus. Don't forget that as a believer, you are adopted into God's family and are an heir to all his benefits and favor. We can pursue God's favor by seeking Him for who He is, not for the things He can provide for us. God shows favor to the ones who delight in Him, connect with Him, and give honor to Him.

Many people sit waiting on God to grant His favor, but in reality, we already have it and He is waiting on us to claim it and receive it in faith. God will pour out more and more favor if you seek it and declare it in faith over your life. God's favor will change your life for the better.

God's favor leads to blessings in your life and circumstances. God's favor is the power that changes things for the better in your life. God's favor is for a purpose. When you receive God's favor, you are not to sit on it idly, but you are meant to get up and do something positive with it within the will of God for your life. When you receive favor and blessing, you are to be a blessing to someone else. Remember that God does not fill a closed fist. We become blessed to be a blessing. Jesus said the 2nd greatest command is to "love others as yourself." We must take advantage of what He has already provided and use it wisely to help bring the Kingdom of God to earth.

Receiving God's favor is a simple act on our part. Study God's Word regularly and store up the principles in your heart (and mind). Speak those out loud from your mouth. Believe those principles and then act on them. Favor will begin to flow. Receive it and begin to expect it. Expect great things to happen and act like the favor of God is yours, because it is.

God seeks out those who love Him and love His commands so that He can guide, bless and protect them. In the four gospels, Jesus gave 50 commands. Here are ten suggested actions to bring about God's favor over your life. These are consistent within the commands of Jesus. Our obedience to the commands of Jesus lead to God's favor.

1) Love God with all your heart (above anyone and everything else)

2) Love people by having an unselfish concern for the needs and well--being of others and then act unselfishly to meet those needs

3) Give generously your gifts and offerings (you will reap what you sow)

4) Hate what God hates by taking a righteous stand against evil and anything that is unrighteous in the eyes of God

5) Trust and be faithful to walk with God obeying His commands while trusting him for all your needs

6) Be blameless, holy and righteous to do the will of God for your life as you stop all conscious sinning and seek repentance

7) Submit to God by laying aside your priorities and yield to His will for your life

8) Be honest in all your dealings and focus on doing the right things right even when no one else but God is looking

9) Be humble and think others better than yourself; give credit, don't take it

10) Acquire wisdom of God's principles and commands so you can go through life making decisions and taking actions that are pleasing to God and not man

You and I are saved by God's grace and favor. know that "saved: can mean more than just salvation in heaven. To be saved means to be protected, preserved, healed, made whole, and delivered from oppression. His favor and kindness take care of everything we need for our body, soul and spirit. Being born again is a starting point for His favor to pour out; he will pour out more and more favor and grace over your life if you will but receive it and walk in the Lord's ways. Have you made Jesus the Lord of your life by knowing his teachings, commands and then being obedient to do them? This is part of getting in the flow of God's favor.

So, what does God's favor look like in your life? Minister Jerry Saville wrote "10 Benefits of the Favor of God" shown below.

Favor produces:

1) Supernatural increase and promotion - Gen. 39:21

2) Restoration of everything the enemy has stolen from you - Exodus 3:21

3) Honor in the midst of your adversaries - Exodus 11:3

4) Increased assets, especially in the area of real estate - Deut. 33:23

5) Great victories in the midst of great impossibilities - Joshua 11:20

6) Recognition, even when you seem the least likely to receive it - I Sam. 16:22

7) Prominence and preferential treatment - Esther 2:17

8) Petitions granted by even ungodly civil authorities - Esther 5:8

9) Policies, rules, regulations and laws to be changed and reversed to your advantage - Esther 8:5

10) Battles won which you won't even fight because God will fight them for you - Psalm 44:3

Understand that having the Lord's favor does not free us from the world's suffering. Many people in the Bible whom God favored encountered great difficulties and hardships. Ultimately, they overcame those problems to emerge victorious because of their righteous behaviors and obedience leading to God's favor. God never leaves those He favors. As we continue to walk in the favor of God, our devotion and trust in Him will be rewarded. He will equip us for victory over our struggles. Know that God is with us and nothing can happen that is apart from His good purpose.

When you understand you have God's favor available to you, you will find it easier to live with confidence and without fear and worry. You can boldly ask for blessings in Jesus' name that you have never asked for in the past. They will begin to show up as answers to your righteous prayers within the will of God for your life. It honors the Father for you to ask and depend on Him to provide for your needs.

Begin to see and appreciate the many little blessings that God brings your way daily. Many of these are for your enjoyment and well-being. Be thankful and do not take them for granted. Usually in life, we find what we look for. Use your time and energies seeking and receiving God's favor, then use those blessings to bless someone else.

Thank you for reading this post. I hope you will share it with friends if you found it of value. Please consider liking and rating this material in the Commets Box immediately below the section on my other recent posts. My goal in life is "to help people learn how to live a truly blessed life." My posts fall into four categories: 1) Spiritual Law, 2) Christian Principles, 3) Servant Leadership, and 4) Life Lessons. Thanks again for reading and many blessings to you!