Gen 37:1-4.

Favour is the goodwill, mercy and grace that distinguishes one person from another.

When favour is present, you will see God’s unmistakable hand over you. In Gen 39:1-6, even in slavery, God’s hands was evident in Joseph’s life. Even when he was in prison, the keeper of the prison saw God’s hands present in his life. David was also preferred to be King over his taller, well-built brothers. In Gen. 24:15-16, of all the single women that came to the well to fetch water, only Rebecca was favoured to be wife for Isaac, the most eligible bachelor for miles around.

When God’s favour is in a life, the person’s life will have an unexplainable appeal to those who matter. For example, Joseph’s life appealed to his father, even though his brothers did not like him (Gen. 37: 3-4). Even before the heathen king Pharaoh, Joseph found favour (Gen. 41:38-44). David is another example of someone whose life was appealing to even a demon-possessed king like Saul. (1 Samuel 16:14-23). In Daniel 1:19-20, King Nebuchadnezzar loved the slave Daniel above the royals in the palace.

When a person is highly favoured, they ultimately have victory, no matter the odds. Joseph’s own brothers threw him in the pit, and sold him into slavery, yet he made it to the palace. (Gen 37:18-24).

David overcame Goliath, his brothers’ rejection and King Saul’s attempts to kill him. Rebecca waited 20 years to have a baby, endured a trouble pregnancy and eventually became the proud mother of the nation of Israel. (Gen. 25:20-26).

I pray that God will so highly bless you with His unmistakeable and irresistible favour, that you will have ultimate victory over life’s trials in Jesus’ name!

How do I live a highly favoured life?

1. Love what God loves and hate what He hates.

Heb 1:8-9  “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  (9)  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Joseph made God proud when he refused to join his brothers to do wrong and rather reported them to their father. Gen 37:2. When David heard Goliath insulting God’s people, he burned with righteous anger to challenge Goliath. Hear him, 1Sa 17:26b “… for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Daniel in Daniel 6:6-28, chose to die in the lion’s den rather than sin against God. God is no respecter of persons. If you love justice and righteousness and hate sin as God does, His presence will be evident in all areas of your life.

2. Be a merciful/ graceful/ forgiving person to other.

Mat 5:7  “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Joseph had a choice to be vengeful towards his brothers or to be merciful. Gen. 45:1-15. He chose to be merciful and we all saw his testimony. David could easily have taken the life of King Saul who sought to kill him, but he chose to let go and let God. (1 Samuel 24). When his accusers threw Daniel in the lion’s den and God delivered him, he never used his influence to revenge. He left God to deal with his enemies.

Be intentionally gracious to people and your life will be soaked in God’s unmerited high favour.

3. Be truthful in private and in public.

Pro 3:3-4  “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:  (4)  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”

Psa 51:6  “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

God desires truth in our private lives.

God chooses to reveal the things we cover up. Luke 12:2-3  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.  (3)  Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Pro 28:13  “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

If you are in sin and yet desire God’s favour, be quick to repent and make right what is wrong, just like David did in 2 Samuel 12:1-13.

Disobedience followed by delayed repentance leads to God’s rejection, just like King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:1-29.

GOD wants you to live in His favour not His judgement. His favour will make men and circumstances to favour you, but He requires obedience and truth in the inward parts.

Do you desire God’s favour upon your life today? Repent of your covered sins. Release those you have refused to forgive. Be merciful to those who have wronged you and God will also show you mercy!

If you are deciding to turn away from your old ways and let Jesus take charge of your life, please pray the following in your words:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

We invite you to reach out to us for new friends, prayers and any counselling you require. God’s favour will abound towards you from now in Jesus’ name

Visit our website www.rccgnewsprings.org for further information.