LET’S REDEFINE FAVOR.

The moment you read my title I can just but imagine what was running through your head. The word favor captured your attention. Perhaps you have read about people who have been favored by God or you have heard sentiments like “God has favored her,” “I am amazed at what Gods favor has done in my life.” These are just but a few examples.

In our contemporary world favor means that things will be easier for you. You won’t have to struggle and things will come to you. I don’t know about you but till a few days ago this was my understanding of favor. However when it comes to favor there is more to what meets the eye. Taking a look at Bible characters that were favored like Joseph, Esther and Mary the mother of Jesus.

We are so quick to ask God for the same favor that was upon their lives that we forget to look at the price that comes with the favor. Joseph was almost killed by his brothers, later he is sold to a foreign land , wrongly accused and sent to prison not for 3 days, one week but two good years yet he was favored by God.

Mary the Mother of Jesus had to break the news to her fiancée she was pregnant. I can’t begin to imagine how weird that conversation was . She was not told she will she will ride on a donkey nine months pregnant and only her husband and her will bring the child forth. She had no idea she will watch her son die before her eyes. Please note that Angel Gabriel told her she had found favor in the eyes of God.

Here is Esther an orphan. Raised by her uncle. She had to parade herself before the King. After she had found favor before the King definitely the queen is not happy and she has to be courageous enough to go and speak for her people; puts her life in the line. My thought was if she was favored by God she didn’t have to go through the pain of losing her parent and instead of her risking her life the Lord would have sent an angel to the King but this wasn’t the case.

The reality is favor is a blessing in disguise. God will interrupt your norm and push you out of your comfort zone. Just like Joseph you will be in a situation where things are not moving. Just like Mary it will get to a point where you will watch something bad happen to your loved ones but this doesn’t mean God has forgotten that you are His Favored one.

God prepares you for His favor and it might not be easy but a time will come and you will reap in abundance. His favor will mean you have to work hard remember God is a just God and you have a part to play in activating your favor.

Perhaps it’s time to let go of your perspective on favor and get hold of God’s perspective on favor. The way His favor may look is not the way we will expect it to look.