https://youtu.be/d8BwydIR-r0

Finding favor – our passion

But, do we desire these things from God?

The Bible has a great deal to say about “being favored,” and about the “favor of the Lord.”

There are several men and women in the Bible who found “favor” with the Lord.

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Here are just a few examples:

• Noah found favor with the Lord. (Genesis 6:8)
• Joseph experienced favor because the Lord was with him. (Genesis 39:3-4)
• The Children of Israel found favor with the Egyptians because the Lord gave it to them. (Exodus 11:3)
• Moses found favor in the sight of God. (Exodus 33:17)
• Ruth found favor with Boaz because of God’s goodness. (Ruth 2:2, 10, 13)
• Samuel found favor with the Lord and with people. (1 Samuel 2:26)
• Esther found favor and kindness with her king. (Esther 2:17)
• Daniel found favor and compassion from the officials. (Daniel 1:9)
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, found favor with the Lord. (Luke 1:25, 30)
• Jesus found favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:52)
• The early church found favor with people and had the blessing of the Lord on them. (Acts 2:47)
• David found favor with the Lord. (Acts 7:46)

What is this “favor?”

Dictionary.com defines favor as, “the state of being approved or held in regard.”

Some close synonyms include things like…   blessing, benevolence, grace, courtesy, regard, esteem, and kindness.

In the Bible, the meanings are similar. In Hebrew, to be favored is to gain the approval of, to find grace in someone’s eyes.

Further, in the Greek, the word for FAVOR is “charis,” and it is a graciousness towards someone else. Similar terms for this word in the New Testament are…   goodwill, care, help, and grace.

To find favor with other people is a good thing.

We all enjoy being liked and having grace extended to us.

“Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10

What if we entreated the Lord daily to shine His grace, His goodness, His blessing, and His approval on our lives, our homes, and our families?

What might happen if we started asking God for His favor in our lives?

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I’ve started praying and very specifically asking God for His favor in my life and in the lives of those I love.

I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite verses to use in praying for God’s favor.

Then, I’ve added a simple prayer from each of these verses. I hope this will prove helpful to you!

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Here are some Bible verses to help us to ask for favor from the Lord:

Numbers 6:25

“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you. And, may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:25, TLB)

Prayer – “Father, thank You for the incredible ways you take care of us. You are a good, good Father. Would you bless and protect _________; let your face radiate with joy because of ________; be gracious to ________, show ________ Your favor, and give ________ Your peace.”

(Insert your name or a friend/family’s members name in each blank as you pray.)

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1 Chronicles 4:9-10

‘And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.’ (1 Chronicles 4:9-10, NLT)

Prayer – “Lord, thank You for Your goodness to us. You are a very gracious God. Would you bless ________ indeed, and enlarge ________’s territory? Would You let Your hand be with ________, and keep ________ from evil and evil from ________? And, would You keep ________ from trouble and pain?”

Psalm 90:17

“And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.” (Psalm 90:17, AMPC)

Prayer – “God, thank You for Your compassion towards us. We are so grateful for the way that You care for us. Would You let Your beauty, delight, and favor be upon  ________? Would You confirm and establish the work of  ________’s hands? Yes! Confirm and establish the work of  ________’s hands.”

Isaiah 30:18

“Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].” (Isaiah 30:18, NLT)

Prayer – “Father, thank You for being a patient God. Thank You for being so patient with me! Would you be gracious to ________? Would you wait on high to have compassion on ________? Thank You for being a God of justice. Give ________ a heart for You – a deep longing to love You, know You, and serve You.”

Zephaniah 3:17

“For the Lord, your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT)

Prayer – “Thank you, Lord, for living among us and being with us. Would You be a mighty Savior to ________? Would You take delight in ________ with gladness? With Your love, would You calm all of ________’s fears? Rejoice over ________ with joyful songs.”

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Luke 2:52

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52, NLT)

Prayer – “Father, thank You for the way you grow and mature us. Would You grow ________ in wisdom and in stature? Would You also grow ________ in favor with God and with people?”