When I first began
my ministry, I was scared. In those days, women were not as widely accepted in
the pulpit as they are today. Afraid of being rejected, I bent over backward to
behave in the way I thought would please people. The only problem was that I
was trying to earn approval, and it didn't work.
At the time, I knew nothing about supernatural
favor. I didn't realize that favor is a part of grace. In fact, in the New
Testament the words grace and favor both are translated from the Greek word
charis.
The
grace of God is the favor of God. And the grace of God causes good things to
happen in our lives through the channel of faith. It is not by human power or
might but through God's Spirit of grace that we find favor with God and man.
There
is a distinction between natural favor and supernatural favor. Natural favor
must be earned, but supernatural favor is a gift. Natural favor says, if you
work hard enough and long enough, some people will like you some of the time.
But
that acceptance must be maintained, and having to say and do all the right
things becomes a form of bondage. God doesn't expect us to run around trying to
earn favor with Him or with others. He wants us only to do His will--whether it
is popular or not. Just do your best and leave the results to God.
From
childhood, Jesus walked in the supernatural favor of God and men. In fact, He
was so popular He could hardly find time alone to pray and fellowship with His
heavenly Father. Even those who did not believe in Him recognized that He
enjoyed the favor of God.
The
guards sent by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus returned saying, "Never has a
man talked as this Man talks!" (John
7:46, The
Amplified Bible). Right up to the end of His life, even on the cross, that
special favor was recognized (see Luke 23:47-48).
Psalm
8:5-6 says: "You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly
beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have
dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his
feet." In these verses, honor and favor have the same meaning. We might
say that God has crowned man with glory and favor, giving him dominion over the
works of His hands and placing all things under his feet.
We
must never forget that no matter what happens, we can have favor with God and
with other people (see Luke 2:52). But like so many good things in life, just
because something is available to us does not mean that we will partake of it.
The Lord makes many things available that we never receive and enjoy because we
don't activate our faith in that area.
For
example, if we go to a job interview confessing fear and failure, we can be
almost certain we won't get the job. On the other hand, even if we apply for a
job we aren't fully qualified for, we can still go in confidence, knowing that
God will give us favor in every situation that is His will.
First
Samuel 2:7 says, "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He
lifts up." A perfect example of this is found in the life of Esther. God
raised her up out of obscurity to become the queen of the entire land. He gave
her favor with everyone she met, including the king.
Esther
drew upon that favor to save herself and her people from being murdered by the
evil Haman. She may have been afraid to go to the king and ask him to
intervene, but Esther knew she had favor with God and pressed on with complete
confidence in Him.
We
don't have nearly as much fun with the Lord as we should. We should have more
freedom and liberty and less fear and legalism. Regardless of the circumstances
that come into your life, believe God for supernatural favor.
Despite
how hopeless things may seem, God can lift you up. If your life is in His
hands, the light of the Lord shines upon you. It is time we believe the words
of our Father: "You are the apple of My eye. You are My favorite
child" (see Deut. 32:10, NKJV).
Draw closer to God. Experience
the presence of the Holy Spirit every day by reading our blog on the spiritual
matters.
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By: Joyce Meyer
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