Favored by Amy Henderson Harris
A few months ago, I was desperately seeking God and His guidance in the secret place. I was discouraged. I felt defeated. I needed His wisdom. I needed His comfort. So, I called out my questions and concerns - God, what does it mean to be favored by You? The moment these words left my mouth, His Presence surrounded me, and the Holy Spirit gently whispered, "You are favored because you are mine.”
I cried.
I recently participated in a craft fair. I was so expectant for a financial blessing to fall on my business. I'm not looking to become a millionaire—I just want to be able to make money so I can keep creating and encouraging people. This craft fair flooded with people left and right—I got some solid looks at my art, sold some inventory, but did not sell close to what I expected.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t discouraged that day—I was—and I just kept asking God, "Do I keep going? Do I keep doing these things? Am I wasting my energy? Do I not have your favor?"
There’s that word—favor. I found myself saying to God, “If I had your favor, I’d be selling more. I’d be reaching more people. I’d be more successful with the advertising I do on social media. If I had your favor, opportunities would be flooding my inboxes.” God stopped this spiral of thinking immediately. Fast forward to that moment in the secret place and how the Holy Spirit spoke to me. “You are favored because you are mine.”
For a long time, I thought favor meant fruit. If the Lord’s favor is on someone or something, then it will be seen in the fruit of their life. Now, this statement IS true in part—as children of God (believers) the Bible makes it very clear that we are favored by God. Psalms 84:7 says,
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (ESV)
He wants to bless His children. He wants to provide for them. He honors His children. So, what about those seasons where we’re sowing and plowing as we walk in obedience? We’re planting and stewarding the season, but we don’t see the fruit yet. Or it’s a season of unimaginable hurt or grief or disappointment. You’re walking with God in obedience, but life is just hard. Business is tough. Where is our favor then? This is where I was messing up. I can’t write about favor without writing about grace because grace means unmerited favor. Ephesians 1:2-4 says,
“May grace (God’s unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony, unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.” (Amplified Bible).
We did not earn, nor will we ever be able to earn the grace of God. He freely bestowed this gift to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. This means for those of us who believe and are saved, we cannot and will not ever earn the favor of God. We receive the favor of God the moment we believe and accept Jesus as our one and only Savior. Are you excited yet? This means His favor rests upon us and follows us through life. Whatever season we’re in, we have the favor of the Lord.
You may ask—so, what about obedience, Amy? The Psalm above talks about how He holds no good thing from the ones who walk uprightly (in the righteousness of God).
I believe in obedience and pursuing righteousness – the Bible makes it so clear:
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)
2 Timothy 2:22 “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." (ESV)
Here’s the thing: even my pursuit of obedience cannot be credited to me—it’s by the grace of God and the power of His Holy Spirit within me that gives me the ability to pursue Him with a pure heart. My heart (flesh) is not pure, but because of the blood of Jesus and the cleansing of my sin, I am now a new creation in Jesus’ name. Without Jesus, I am nothing. Without His death and resurrection and the tearing of the veil, I have nothing. Without the Holy Spirit, I have no strength or guide or connection to God. Without His transforming grace, I am nothing. I am wildly incapable of living a life of holiness and righteousness without His grace because of my own flesh. But by the grace of God, I am made holy and righteous in His sight.
I say all of this to say, His favor does not come and go based on our walk with Him. He does not take back what He has promised. Our obedience (and sometimes lack thereof) can certainly affect and reap consequences on our life, but since we cannot earn His favor, His grace continues to be the greatest, most unbelievable thing in a believer’s life.
“You are favored because you are mine.” The mark of the Lord’s favor is the life of a saint.
Do not confuse the favor of God with the favor of man. We cannot base our identity on anything other than what the Word says, I repeat, in Ephesians 1:4,
“Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.” (Amplified Bible)
We cannot be confused about our worth when we’re not the first pick, or we don’t get the result we expected. If you are in Christ, you have the favor of God in your life. How beautiful? How stunning? How utterly ridiculous in the most exciting way? So, isn’t that enough? It’s enough for me. This revelation has brought such freedom to my soul. The Lord is my portion. He is MORE than enough for me. Let me be nameless in the sight of man if it means the name of my Savior is glorified and exalted in every thought, word, and action of my life.
I pray this word encourages your heart today. Maybe you were a little confused about favor, too? Maybe you needed to be reminded of God’s redeeming love and grace? Maybe you’ve been thinking you’ve had to earn His love? Whatever you may be feeling right now, I hope this brings freedom to your heart, mind, and soul the way it has for me. Galatians 1:1 says,
“It is for freedom Christ set us free.” (NIV)
The mark of the Lord's favor is the life of a saint. You are favored because you are His.
Father, we thank you.
Amy Henderson Harris is an award-winning author, worship leader, teacher, small business owner, and creative who is passionate to see lives changed through worship, prayer, creativity, and Bible study. Amy currently lives in Chesapeake, VA with her husband and two children, where she serves as the Worship Director for Bridge Church Greenbrier. She also loves to create and sell products that spark joy and share the love of Jesus through her small business. You can connect with Amy through social media @amyhendersonharris.