I know what you’re thinking. I know you’re thinking I wrote this because of the song that’s trending currently but that’s not the case. It is completely coincidental. Or maybe it’s the intentionality of God at work. Whichever the case, it doesn’t change the fact that today’s blog post will be teaching us about a familiar concept; favour.
We are familiar with what favour means but let me briefly describe how I understand it. In my own words, favour is what makes a person preferred. It singles you out in a room full of people–whether or not you’re the best in that room–and puts you on a pedestal. It makes things that are typically difficult to obtain, so easy for you to access.
Favour can raise a beggar from the ash and make him sit with princes (1Sam. 2:8). You know those cringe Nollywood movies or kdramas where the CEO or royalty falls in love with the poor girl or boy? That’s something like how favour works. Favour puts an end to shame, pain, and everything in between. Israel was suffering some forms of hardship and in Psalm 102:13 we see the prayer of the Psalmist asking for favour. Sometimes, all you need to change your life around is a little bit of favour from God.
When God’s favour is upon a person, it doesn’t matter the disposition of everyone else involved. Ordinarily, there’s no reason why the likes of Mordecai or Daniel should have been honored the way they were by the heathen kings they served. These kings didn’t know the true God or have any regard for Him. But God had already selected both of them to be favoured…so who could do otherwise?
Nevertheless, this does not imply that hard work, diligence, or excellence are irrelevant. Rather, favour can complement these qualities and take them beyond the ordinary.
The book of Psalms talks about favour like a shield (Psa. 5:12). If a parent has a favourite child, it becomes evident through the way the parent defends the child. What anyone would do and get a major beating, that child could do and get let off after a mild scolding. The fact that the parent favours that child above the others becomes evident in the way and manner the child is protected.
In the book of Genesis, the Scripture tells us that the earth had become so corrupt God decided on a restart. He was going to flood the whole earth and start again. However, in Genesis 6:8, we are told that Noah found favour in God’s sight. This favour formed a shield around him and his family, protecting them against God’s judgment.
I saw somewhere that favour empowers a person to do more…and I couldn’t agree more. Most of the time, favour precedes purpose. If a person receives favour, 9 out of 10 times, it is because there is a purpose the person must achieve.
Esther had a purpose to save her people from destruction. If God had told her that straight up, she may have been distressed by such a huge mandate. I mean, how could one small girl save hundreds of people? But then, she received favour and was selected amongst many to be Queen (Est. 2-6). It was through the favour she found before King Ahasuerus that she was able to save her people.
Likewise, Joseph. He found favour in the nick of time and through that, God was able to preserve His people during a terrible famine (Gen. 39-43). Moses was preserved and later on able to deliver his people because he received favour before Pharaoh’s daughter (Exo. 2,7-13). Even Jesus started His journey to purpose after receiving favour (Lk. 2:52).
“If your heart is right, favor flows from the Lord, but a devious heart invites his condemnation.”
Proverbs 12:2 TPT
A clean heart is a prerequisite for God’s favour. What is the state of your heart? If you have an impure heart–like Haman did–when you receive favour, you will only use it to fuel your evil intentions.
Furthermore, God bestows favour and honour, and no good thing would he withhold from those that walk uprightly (Psa. 84:11). To obtain favour before God, you have to be sure that you are walking uprightly. Be sure that your ways are in tandem with His ways. As mentioned above, most times, the favour comes for fulfillment of purpose. Why would God bestow His favour on someone He is sure isn’t interested in fulfilling purpose?
As much as we talk about favour, it is more than just something to enjoy or take for granted. God’s favour is an empowerment for work, a divine enablement to fulfill purpose. It is not randomly given to just anyone—it is reserved for those who uphold the precepts of God, those whose hearts are aligned with His will. If we desire His favour, we must be willing to walk in obedience, integrity, and righteousness, because with favour comes responsibility.
Faith+blog 