10 Powerful Verses of God’s Favor
As believers, we often hear about the importance of connecting with God’s favor in our lives. But what exactly does it mean to have God’s favor, and how can we experience it?
God’s favor is often described as divine blessings and protection that come from having a close relationship with Him. The Hebrew word for favor is rāṣôn, meaning pleasure, delight, goodwill, and acceptance. It is not something that can be earned or bought, but rather comes from the heart of Love as a gift that is freely given us as God’s kids. It is experienced as we connect Him more fully, resting in His kindness, goodness, graciousness and love. In this article, we will explore 10 powerful verses on God’s favor and how they can guide us in our journey to experience the fullness of God’s blessings in our lives.
1. Psalm 5:12 (NRSVUE):
“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
This verse reminds us that God’s favor is not just a temporary blessing, but a constant protection that surrounds us like a shield. The word translated “cover”, here is the Hebrew word, āṭar, which means to be surrounded and crowned. Because He has made you His righteousness, you are surrounded about and crowned with favor! As we set our hearts to live righteously, which is how we have been crafted, leaning into God’s will, we can rest, trusting that His favor will always be with us because we are His.
2. Proverbs 3:3-4 (TPT):
“3 Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught.
Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart.
4 That’s how you will find favor and understanding with both God and men—
you will gain the reputation of living life well.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of living a life of love and faithfulness, which we can do out of the place of being one with God, communing with Him intimately. When we connect with God, we are transformed into His image, His qualities manifesting as a part of our character (2 Corinthians 3:18). As a byproduct we will not only find favor with God, but also with those around us.
3. Psalm 90:17 (TLV):
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us. Establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”
This verse is a powerful reminder that God’s favor is not just for our personal lives, but also for the work that we do. When we receive His favor, God is able to establish and bless the work of our hands, which is His joy!
4. Proverbs 8:35 (TPT):
“For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord.” (emphasis added)
In this verse, Wisdom is personified as a woman (deified) calling out to those who seek Her.
Brian Simmons comments: “Lady Wisdom is a figure of speech for God himself, who invites us to receive the best way to live, the excellent and noble way of life found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is wisdom personified, for he was anointed with the Spirit of Wisdom. See Isa. 11:1–2; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3.”
When we seek wisdom and understanding from God, we open ourselves to find His favor, delight, and blessings in our lives.
5. Psalm 84:11 (NRSVUE)
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
This verse reminds us that God’s favor is not just for protection and blessings, but also for honor and goodness. Do not read this as a transactional dynamic which says, if you do good, then you will get good from God”. That concept is Old Covenant/Law of Moses. We earn nothing. We are sons and daughters who get everything by inheritance; It’s all about grace. And it is all about our heart conditions. When our hearts resonate with God’s heart, we want the good things He wants; and He wants us to love as He loves (John 13:34). This is what it means to “walk uprightly”. If we love as He loves, He can entrust us with every good thing because we can handle it well for ourselves and others!
6. Luke 2:52 (NKJV)
“52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Even Jesus, the Son of God, grew in favor with God and man as He lived a life of obedience and righteousness. Understand, once again, the Father did not bless Jesus in His humanity because He earned it with obedience and righteous behavior (transactional). Because Jesus resonated with His Father’s heart and the knowledge of Who He was as a Son, He was obedient and and behaved righteously. Favor was upon Him because He was a Son, Who knew Who knew His Father and Who knew Who He was. Out of that place He could manifest His Sonship loving as His Father loves. We too can grow in the realization of God’s favor as we grow in knowing our Father and Who we are as sons and daughters. Out of that place we will love as He loves; obedience and righteous living will result. God’s pleasure and favor will be evident.
7. Proverbs 11:27 (NKJV)
“He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.“
This verse highlights the importance of seeking good and righteousness. Favor will result but, once again, as a byproduct of son-/daughter-ship, not because we’ve earned it. We are needing to heal from millenia of a faulty transactional relationship with God. We seek good because this is what Love does and God’s will is that we love as He loves (John 13:34, 1 John 4:8,16). When our hearts align with God’s as sons and daughters, favor flows as a byproduct of being who we are and acting as sons and daughters of God. We flow in favor as an inheritance as mature sons and daughters. It is by grace, we earn nothing!
8. Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”
We understand Who God is, Who never changes, in light of the cross revealing God as He truly is (2 Corinthians 4:6, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 13:8). So, what is God angry at? If He has forgiven all sin for all time, He is not angry at His kids. But He is angry at everything that molests/deceives/destroys His kids: sin, death, the devil/demonic. He has wrath against all that. However, He has ultimately defeated all that, so when sin, death, the devil/demonic manifest, His anger is momentary. But His favor for His kids is for life: this and the next!
This verse reminds us that even in times of trial and hardship, God’s favor is still with us. His love and blessings are everlasting, and we can trust that joy will come in the morning.
9. Proverbs 12:2 (TPT)
“If your heart is right, favor flows from the Lord, but a devious heart invites his condemnation.”
This verse serves as a reminder that God’s favor is not just for those who are righteous,
Note, once again favor is a byproduct of a right heart, not earning a transactional reward. When it talks about condemnation for a devious heart, it is NOT talking about God turning away from you. He NEVER leaves or forsakes (Hebrews 13:5). There is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1). But He will totally condemn behavior that is not worthy of His sons and daughters and convict us of the righteousness of who He has made us to be (John 16:8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21).
10. Psalm 30:7-8 (NKJV)
“7 Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried out to You, O Lord; And to the Lord I made supplication:”
In this verse, the psalmist acknowledges that it is only by God’s favor that he has been able to overcome challenges and stand strong. When we face difficulties, we can cry out to God and to receive His mercy and favor to guide us through. Note, the hiding of God’s face was an experience of separation that only happened/s in the psalmist’s/our minds; God never leaves or forsakes (Hebrews 13:5, Colossians 1:21). Note as well, that when the Psalmist cried out to God, He responded: “10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness”. This shows the importance of context (reading the whole chapter (sometimes the whole book) or at least surrounding verses to get a more accurate picture of what is going on rather than creating doctrine out of a single verse!
FAQs:
Does God’s favor on us make us lucky in life?
God’s favor is not about luck, but rather about His divine blessings and protection that come from having a close relationship with Him. It is not about being lucky, but about experiencing the fullness of His love and goodness in our lives.
Is the accumulation of wealth a sign of God’s favor?
The accumulation of wealth is not necessarily a sign of God’s favor. While prosperity can be a blessing, it’s important to remember that God’s favor encompasses more than just material wealth. It includes divine blessings, protection, guidance, and the fullness of His love and goodness in our lives. So, while wealth can be a part of God’s blessings, it is not the sole indicator of His favor.
Is there a word that means “God’s favor”?
The term “divine favor” refers to the favorable blessings and protection bestowed by God upon individuals. It encompasses the concept of receiving God’s grace, kindness, and benevolent intervention in one’s life. This divine favor is not based on luck or chance, but rather on the loving and benevolent nature of God. It signifies experiencing the fullness of God’s love, goodness, and protection in our lives.
What does it mean to grow in favor with God?
Growing in favor with God means deepening your relationship with Him by abiding/remaining in the awareness of your oneness with Him (John 15:1-13). Here we learn Who God truly is, who we are as His sons/daughters, and how to love as He loves. This results in living a life of obedience and righteousness, being led by Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). It involves yielding to and aligning your thoughts, actions, and desires with God’s.This will always look like love, expressed in a myriad of ways. As you grow in intimacy with God, you will experience His favor: blessings, protection, and guidance in your life.
What is the difference between God’s grace and favor?
God’s grace and favor are both important concepts in the Bible, often mentioned in various verses. While they are related, they have distinct meanings.
God’s grace is often described as unmerited favor, meaning that it is a gift from God that we do not deserve. It is the love and mercy of God shown to us even though we have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Grace is often associated with forgiveness, salvation, and the empowerment to live a life that is pleasing to God, which results in life for us. Some key verses on God’s grace include Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
On the other hand, God’s favor is often described as divine blessings and protection that come from having a close relationship with Him. It is not something that can be earned or bought, but rather a gift that is freely given as a byproduct to sons and daughters who cultivate close relationship with God. Verses on God’s favor emphasize the importance of seeking God’s will and living a righteous life in order to manifest His favor. This will always look like fulfilling the greatest/new commandment (Matthew 22:35-39, John 13:34): loving and Christ loves! For example, Psalm 5:12 says, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
In summary, while both grace and favor are expressions of God’s goodness towards us, grace specifically relates to God’s unmerited (unearned) love and mercy, especially in the context of salvation, while favor relates to the blessings and protection that come from having a close relationship with Him.
What is the favor of God, and how can I get it?
The favor of God is often described as the gracious and loving disposition that God has towards his people. It can manifest as blessings, protection, and guidance in various aspects of life. As a review, In the Bible, there are several verses that speak about God’s favor:
1. Psalm 5:12 – “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
2. Proverbs 12:2 – “A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns.”
3. Luke 2:52 – “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Experiencing God’s favor involves living in accordance with His will, seeking His guidance through prayer/communion, meditation on His word, worship and trusting in His love and provision. It’s also important to remember that God’s favor is not earned through our own efforts, but is a gift given to us out of His grace and love.
Why does it appear that God favor some people over others?
God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He loves ALL His kids equally. However, immaturity means that some of His blessing/favor would actually harm His kids or cause harm through His kids when their hearts are not right. James 4:3 (New Living Translation) says, “3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
He is a good Father Who corrects because He loves and the fruit of this is righteousness (Hebrews 12:11). When we are mature, we can handle the favor He has for us because our hearts want to love as He loves (others and ourselves). Maturity allows God to manifest His favor which is His will for ALL His kids.
Conclusion
God’s favor is a powerful and precious gift that we can experience through intimacy with Him as we start to resonate with His heart to a life of righteousness and fruitfulness. As we meditate on these verses, allowing Holy Spirit to speak through them into our lives, we can experience the fullness of God’s blessings and protection. May we always seek and look to Him, trusting in His goodness and love, and enjoying His favor.
Marked By Love
Discovering God’s Favor means realizing that you are deeply loved by God, and because of His love, He delights in giving to you. Once you grasp this, you will understand that it is impossible to escape from God’s favor. When we fail to recognize His immense love and continuous giving, we hinder the flow of His favor by our lack of belief. Catherine Toon’s book “Marked By Love” is a powerful resource for those seeking to uncover God’s love. Additionally, for those who prefer a step-by-step video course, Catherine has developed an engaging option. This course is perfect for individuals or couples, aiming to strengthen personal life and marriages and bring God’s favor into families.
