30 Jan Attracting the favour of God
How do we go about attracting the favour of God’? Can we actually attract His favour?
Does God simply choose to favour some people above others? Does God have favourites?
Favour means…
Goodwill, generosity, support, advocacy, approval, mercy, unwarranted blessings.
Favour Opens Doors!
Favour brings unexpected blessing, provision, opportunities, experiences, support, approval and so much more….
The truth is other people may have more talent, education or experience than you – but God’s favour can open doors for you that no one else could open, and take you to places that you could never have envisaged.
The Bible talks much about ‘favour’
- Nehemiah with the King of Babylon
- Daniel with King Nebuchadnezzar
- Joseph in prison & in Pharaoh’s palace
- Esther within the Kings court and with King Xerxes himself
“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favour and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:8-9, 15, 17)
Luke records that:
“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. ” (Luke 2:52)
So surely it’s possible for each one of us to grow in these things too! We must have the potential to grow in favour with God and man.
Growing and developing our wisdom is important too. I’ve written a helpful post entitled ‘Get Wisdom’
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
Noah was a man whom found favour in God’s eyes. God favoured him above all the men and women of his generation.
“The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created – and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground – for I regret that I have made them.’ But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD.” (Gen. 6:5-8)
God approved of Noah and blessed his life. God is looking for those He can favour!
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chron 16:9)
God’s on the lookout for people with his heart who love Him and who are committed to Him!
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
Here are seven reasons why I believe God favoured Noah…
1. Righteous & Blameless
“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” (Gen. 6:9)
Noah lived righteously himself, before God and before men!
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that EVERY inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled!” (Gen. 6:5-8)
The whole earth corrupt and full of violence (nothings changed!) in Noah’s day. I guess it was a pretty challenging environment and yet he managed to live righteously & blamelessly in a totally corrupt generation.
- So what’s your righteousness like before God?
- How is your personal holiness?
When no ones looking?! When you’re surfing the net or watching TV?
- How is your righteousness before men?
What would your work mates, friends or neighbours say?
Perhaps you say, ‘It’s not possible to live like Noah!’ or ‘God gets that I’m frail/fallible’ or ‘Perfection is for heaven!’
In fact the temptation is to think I’ll never be perfect so why bother?
However the bible talks about us having been given the power to resist temptation, overcome sinful desires and to live right. Can I suggest that, with God’s help, we at least have a go!
If there’s an area where you are not living right and struggling to live right – commit it to daily prayer and watch God change your heart and desires.
God’s promise – “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous and surround them with favour as a shield.” (Psalm 5:12)
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
2. He Walked With God Faithfully
This was God’s original intention for Adam and it seemed to run in family from Noah’s great granddad down:
“After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Gen. 5:22-24)
Those early generations of men & women walked faithfully before God during the most corrupt times – and we can too!
- Let’s walk faithfully before God!
- Let’s walk with God each day!
- Let’s learn to talk with God regularly, walk with Him throughout our days.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favourand a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Is there an area of your life where you’re not walking faithfully before God?!
3. He was a worshipper
The first thing Noah did when he left the ark…
“Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.” (Gen. 8:20-21)
Noah worshipped God.
The primary call upon every human being is to be a worshipper.
“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”” (John 4:23-24)
Worship involves being grateful, thankful, appreciating Him, His world, His provision, protection and when we come together being worshipful!
But it’s more than that – “Offering our bodies as living sacrifices….” (Rom. 12:2)
Our worship should be more than a Sunday experience. We worship God when we give, serve, sacrifice our time, helping others, provide, care, love and encouragement….
Can I encourage you to be a worshipper.
God LOVES worshippers! God favours worshippers!
4. He listened to God
“God said to Noah….” (Genesis 6:13)
All the great men & women of God have been great listeners!
Consider – Esther, Deborah, Samuel, David, Moses, Daniel, Peter, Paul and of course, Jesus, who was in constant communion with Father.
Who taught them? They had no books!
“Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favour from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”” (Proverbs 8:34-36)
Have you developed your ability to listen?
If you are going to attract the favour of God then you have to learn to listen!
“Listen and hear my voice: pay attention to what I have to say” (Isaiah 28:23)
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…(Psalm 37:7)
God longs for us to pause for breath and tune out from the world and tune into his frequency.
“My sheep listen to my voice…”
Why don’t you put some time aside this week to listen?
5. He did everything just as God told him
My grandson went through a stage, like most children, wherein whatever his parents told him to do – he either ignored it or pretended he hadn’t heard. He was on thin ice at times. He pushed his parents right to the limit.
Yet so many Christians live like that – with our hands over our ears – “lalalalala.”
And yet, in contrast;
“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” (Gen. 6:22)
“And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” (Gen. 7:5)
“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah.” (Gen. 7:16)
Noah the farmer had a career change at 530 years old! He became a shipbuilder!!
Can you imagine that?
He had no experience of ship building and he’d probably never even seen the sea!
Yet he followed God’s instructions to the letter! Precisely, exactly, no shortcuts!
Some of us are a little bit picky when it comes to God’s instructions.
We pick and choose what we will and what we won’t obey God in.
We choose our options as if we were choosing sweets at a ‘pick n mix.’
God rewards our obedience. God grants us favour when we obey Him.
I’ve discovered it is not enough for us simply to trust God we have to learn to obey Him too – to trust and obey.
6. He led his household well!
Noah was a present in his own home and he led his family well. We must set the tone at home. We must set the example to our spouse and children.
- Do they see someone walking with God?
- A righteous and Godly person?
- A person of integrity and honesty?
- A person of the Word and of Prayer?
- When do your children see you going off/rising early to pray/read?
Do they see:
- A person committed to building God’s Kingdom?
- A parent who loves and disciplines their children?
- A person who loves and honours their spouse?
- A person who’s full of fun and is life-giving….or are you a grumpy old…..!?
Is there one area you need to focus on….?
Where perhaps you don’t you lead your household well?
7. He was a man of faith (Heb 11:7) who revered God.
The Bible states that He was greater than Abraham! Noah spent 500 years trying, with Sarah, for a baby!! Can you believe that?!
“After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.” (Gen. 5:32)
He also built an Ark in the middle of a desert – miles from the sea!!
If Noah hadn’t been obedient & faith-filled, it might be someone else we study.
Can I encourage you live a life full of faith……take risks, no regrets, no if only’s!
If we’re going to live a life of faith and attract the favour of God we’re going to have to take some risks? Faith without risk isn’t really faith. Faith attracts God’s favour!
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
Because Noah trusted and obeyed God – the favour of God was upon his life.
God warned Noah in advance about flood, provided a way out and then when the waters receded and Noah and his family left the ark…..
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (Gen. 9:1-3)
God’s favour is a wonderful thing!
“For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour.” (Psalm 84:11)
“For whoever finds me finds life and receives favour from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:35)
Favour Is A Heart Thing!
I don’t believe we can force God to favour us. It results from:
- Loving God
- Trusting Him
- Obeying Him
- Honouring Him in every way
- Putting Him first
……and not for what we can get back, but because we simply love Him.
Our walk with God should be done out of DELIGHT rather than DUTY
The DUTIFUL Christian walk is a DULL and DREARY walk!!!
‘Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.’ (Psalm 37:4)
That’s the FAVOUR of God!
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
Three further things to say about attracting the favour of God…
1. God Responds To Our Generosity & Goodness
Cane & Abel
This situation demonstrated the difference between their hearts towards God.
“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (Gen. 4:2-5)
I’ve always been puzzled by this passage however the NIV Study Bible states:
“The contrast is not between the offering of plant life and an offering of an animal but between a careless, thoughtless offering and a choice, generous offering (cf Lev. 3:16). Motivation and attitude of the heart are all important, and God looked with favour upon Abel and his offering because of Abel’s faith.” (Heb. 11:4)
Our right heart and generosity to God and others often attracts His favour!
“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)
I don’t believe mean people attract God’s favour!
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:24-25)
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
If you are generous to others you will attract the favour of God!
Julia and I have always been generous people and I’ve lost count of the number of times God has abundantly provided for us as a family. We’ve seen God provide for cars, homes, holidays, finance, debt release, weddings etc – never mind all the opportunities and experiences He has created and the many doors He has opened. He is so good!
Friends if we live selfishly without a thought for others or the things that matter to God we will see little sign of the favour of God in our lives.
We should seek the good of others…
“Whoever seeks good finds favour, but evil comes to one who searches for it.” (Proverbs 11:27)
If you want to attract God’s favour then be generous and seek the good of others.
Do it with pure motives though and not simply in order to attract His favour.
2.We Already Have A Measure Of His Favour Upon Our Lives
“For it is by grace that we have been saved….” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Greek word is ‘charis’ – meaning ‘grace and favour’ but often translated grace.
Through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross – we have already received grace and favour in that our sins have been forgiven and we have access to Father God. Yet there is more…
“One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.” (Proverbs 22:11)
It’s amazing to think that His favour will often give us access to people of influence and we’ve experienced that during our ministry. But consider this – we as God’s people have access to a much more influential person – God Himself!
We each have been given have access to God’s power, influence and favour!
Perhaps that will change the way you pray….
3. Is It Wrong To Pray For Favour?
Absolutely not! (although God may well draw the line at your sports team!)
“Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11)
“Remember me with favour, my God, for all I have done for these people.” (Nehemiah 5:19)
“Then that person can pray to God and find favour with him, they will see God’s face and shout for joy; he will restore them to full well-being.” (Job 33:26)
I’ve discovered that God’s favour often isn’t instant. The hardest thing is to wait. I’ve written a post entitled: “Pray. Wait. Trust.”
ATTRACTING THE FAVOUR OF GOD
I wonder in which area of your life you are desiring to see the favour of God right now?
This is my prayer for you right now:
“The grace (spiritual favour and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).” (Philippians 4:23 AMPC)
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ?
If you’ve enjoyed reading my blog you might wish to try one of our books. All have been well received and are available on Amazon.
“Imagine” is all about trusting God as you journey through life and how to really discover and experience the abundant life that God planned for you before you were born. It’s been used in many churches as a Sunday teaching series and in small groups. “Imagine” is available on Amazon here.
“Courage for the discouraged” was only published in November 2020 and has already touched and changed lives. It has been described as “a book of help and a book of hope” and “encouragement on steroids!” It can also be read as a 30 day devotional as each chapter contain readings and suggested prayers. It’s available at all good online bookstores and on Amazon here.
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