Have you ever been put in a position that you really didn’t necessarily “earn,” but you’re there anyway? When you know for a fact that there’s nothing you necessarily did or said, nor anything so particularly wonderful about you that better qualifies you for the role you’ve been given than anyone else? And yet – it’s yours? People wonder why you got the promotion, why you were elevated to another level with quite possibly even less experience than those around you. Why you were suddenly brought to the forefront all the way from the background. Why? That, my friends, is something we call favor. We don’t really understand why it was given to us, but it’s ours to handle anyway.
Favor – can be defined as “an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual.” I have also heard it defined as “an act of gracious or unusual kindness, usually by a supervisor.” Increasingly in our lives when favor finds us (or has been granted to us) – we become humbled by it and very grateful for it. And – while we’re grateful for the blessing we’ve been given – we are often left with that lingering question of “why”? Why me? Why am I here? Why did God put me in this role – what does He want me to do?
I’ve been thinking recently that these two things – gratefulness and favor – may quite possibly be very inextricably linked. The more favor we’re shown, the greater the spirit of humility we have and therefore the greater the feeling of gratefulness we experience. I think part of that admission that we are not where we are by our own power, but by His, is perhaps part of the incentive God has to continue to bless us with favor.
Pastor Darrell Jackson of Bible Way Church of Atlas Road said months ago as I was just moving to Columbia and starting a new role in a new industry that “the blessings of God will follow you in a strange place.” That “God will put you in a place where no one around you can do what God anointed you to do.” The longer I’m here in this “new” place and new surroundings, the more I realize how true those statements really are.
As Bishop TD Jakes once said about favor “I didn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, I don’t understand it, but I’ve got it” (Favor Ain’t Fair sermon). I don’t know if we’ll ever fully understand it, but I am starting to feel that gratitude and favor seem to create a positive cycle that propels us upward and forward as God continues to draw us closer to him. It’s quite amazing.
Worth reading: The ART of Gratitude
#nextlevel #gratitude #favor #strangeplace #TDJakes #DarrellJackson #whatisfavor
A.D. Smith 
Ok Andrea,
We live in a world where almost everyone is crying, “IT IS NOT FAIR!” In many situations life is not fair. Fair is not a biblical concept. People usually cry, “NOT FAIR,” when they think someone has gotten more than them and they want what you have. It seems to be hard-wired into our DNA. Virtually every child uses this tactic to get what he or she wants. We have all done it and seen it.
When it comes to the favor and blessings of God, it is not fair. He gives it out as He sees fit and He is, after all, GOD. So, of course He can. Deuteronomy 28:2 says, “All the blessings shall come and overtake you.” God loves to bless His kids. And we love to be blessed, Amen?
What I seem to be seeing in so many is that we are embarrassed by the blessings. You look around and you seem to be the brunt of blessing others are not receiving, so you try to hide them, ashamed of them. Do you think this honors God? Probably not! We need to brag on God and His mighty Hand of favor and blessings. Psalm 118:23: “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Don’t you marvel at all the Lord does in your life?
Psalm 35:27-28: “…And let them say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant.’ And my tongue shall declare your righteousness and your praise all day long.”
We are supposed to brag on what He does in our lives, NOT and NEVER be ashamed!!! The blessings of God on our lives draw people to Him. Some, to be sure, will be jealous, critical or angry at your blessings. So what?!? Don’t allow others to ruin or squelch all the Lord is doing. Remember, He is the Blesser and He is to be bragged upon.
If you refuse to rejoice in all the Lord does in your life because you are embarrassed, think He might stop the flow??? Your real friends will rejoice with you as God blesses.
Many times I have been in meetings with other pastors and I refused to brag on what God was doing. Usually the theme of the meetings was doom and gloom. I hesitated to talk about all the Lord was doing and how the church was growing. I was holding back on God!!!
Tell your story to others and give God the glory! He will use it for you and in them.
Two things we are called also to use are blessing to bless others that may not have deserved what we have given to them. That what modeling Christ looks like.
Secondly there’s gonna come a time when you favor seems to be out of line how will you respond to that time in life? We all go have that to deal with.
I love this Rev. Hooker – preach!!! Thank you for your feedback. You are so right – God wants that credit and praise, “bragging on Him” as you say.