Having Favour With God

By Rev Goh Yong Kuang

For you bless the righteous, O Lord;

you cover him with favour as with a shield.

~ Psalm 5:12 ESV ~

The word “favour” appears more than a hundred times throughout the books of the Bible.

Having God’s favour means that we have His divine acceptance and approval, special benefits and blessings. God shows His favour to those who delight in Him, follow and obey Him.

Why is being in God’s favour such a big deal for us?

Because it means that we have an existing relationship with God, which brings us into a place of favour and intimacy with God. 

The Lord says of His people through the prophet Isaiah…

“These are the ones I look on with favour:

those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word.” ~ Isaiah 66:2 NIV

(“contrite in spirit” = repentant, showing remorse for sin.

“tremble at my Word” = obeying the Word)

According to Luke 2:52, Jesus grew in favour with God and men. Jesus was able to gain favour with God (and also with men) because He had a loving relationship with God the Father. His life goal and mission was to obey and to please the Father who sent Him (John 6:38, 8:29)

The world may hate us for following and obeying God - but those who truly love God will show favour to us. Those who live to please God will be loved by God’s people! 

May I encourage as well as challenge each and every one of us to work on our relationship with God. 

1.        Make time daily to spend with God in His Word and in prayer.

2.       Surround ourselves with Godly people.

3.       Remove from our lives things that hinders our fellowship with God.

We should never settle for a slipshod, superficial type of fellowship with the One whose favour covers every area of our lives and surrounds us like a shield!

PRAYER:

Father in heaven, thank you for saving us and calling us into a relationship with you. Make us grow to become more like Jesus in the way we think and act. Teach us to follow Him by seeking to do Your will and to walk in His righteousness. Give us favour that opens door for the Gospel, that leads to the accomplishment of Your purposes. These things we ask in Jesus name. Amen!