Favor!

This time of year there are a lot of parties and showers. One of the things that is usually done at the end is to give ‘favors‘ to the guests. While we understand why we receive favors – the host is appreciative for our coming and extends a gift – do we really understand what favor is when it comes to the Lord:

For this reason the Lord is still waiting to show his favor to you so he can show you his marvelous love. He waits to be gracious to you. He sits on his throne ready to show mercy to you. For Yahweh is the Lord of justice, faithful to keep his promises. Overwhelmed with bliss are all who will entwine their hearts in him, waiting for him to help them. Isaiah 30:18(TPT)

If God is waiting to show us His favor – what is it that He is waiting to give us. The internet dictionary says that it is “approval, support, or liking for someone or something and an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual”.

What stuck out to me in this definition was, ” an act of kindness beyond what is due”. This describes to me what God’s favor is like. God extends to us many acts of kindness beyond what is deserved or due. We are given first of all air to breathe – something we cannot manufacture on our own – we are given an abundance of the fruits of God’s creation to eat; as we know He wakes us up each morning and starts us on our way with the activity of our limbs and the soundness of our minds. But He doesn’t stop there. He protects us from dangers seen and unseen. He opens doors of opportunity that are at times unbelievable. He carries us through life’s storms. He heals our bodies when they are sick, even when it’s due to things we neglect to do to care for ourselves. He sets us in families to give us comfort and love. The list can go on and on – for it never stops. With mercy He forgives us of our sins, and extends grace that cancels judgment. He helps us even to overcome our weakness when we come to HIm.

When we think of God’s goodness to us, we only scratch the surface to what His favor looks like. All of us have gotten picked for a job we weren’t qualified for, or at least no more qualified than many others. All of us have been picked over hundreds of others for that assignment or that house or that discount for our car. These things are without a doubt – favor in action! The next time the enemy tries to bring up something that you feel you missed out on that you should have received – think for a minute about the many things God has favored you with – and if you wait a minute you might see that the thing you thought you wanted, God extended favor to you by NOT giving it to you!

Maria