God's Favorite

favor (fa ver) n. - (1)a helpful or considerate act; the attitude of friendliness or approbation; (2)the condition of being held in the regard
v. (1) to choose, esteem, or prefer; (2) to assist, promote, advance, or increase

favorite (fa ver it) n. - (1) anything regarded with special favor, backing, support, or given preferentiality above all others; (2) most desired; (3) in competition, the contestant considered to be the most likely winner


How do you choose a favorite? Better yet, how does one become a favorite? My favorite color is green. I’ve always liked it. The thing is, green didn’t do anything differently than red or yellow or cerulean. It’s not even necessarily the color that looks best on me. I just like it. If I have to make a choice based solely upon color, and green is in the running, it wins every time. No contest. Just because it’s my favorite, I favor it. Favor isn’t synonymous with popularity. Popularity fades; favor is constant. In my world, green doesn’t have to fear becoming the new black or being “last season”. Green never gets old or boring to me. By no action of
its own, it lives safely in favor, simply because of my personal choice.
Does this mean that becoming a favorite requires no action? Well, let’s take a more personal example. Consider your best friends. Why have you given these persons such an esteemed title? “Best Friends”. That’s a bit intense. How often do you speak to these people or hang out with them? They probably make you feel pretty important and appreciated. They must on some level, or surely you wouldn’t regard them as the best friends you have. If they never spoke well of you, never congratulated or complimented you, never told you “Thank you.” for kind gestures or deeds, would you still regard them as the best? Your favorite? In a world of millions, would you still favor them?
God delights in us. We’re His favorite. I am, and so are you. He doesn’t have to choose between us because, well, He’s God. (Though feel free to make it as personal as you like. I certainly do!) He didn’t have to choose between us; instead he selected us as a collective unit to serve Him (1 Peter 2:4, 9). While serving as one body, He’s given us each individual purposes and plans designed uniquely for our lives. God has a favorite life and destiny for each of us --- His perfect will (Jeremiah 29:11). The good news is that, like my green, we didn’t have to do anything to be picked. We didn’t have to earn it or even deserve it. He did it before the foundation of the world. We were born with the title “God’s Favorite” (Ephesians 1:4-6).

You may be thinking “If I’m God’s Favorite, why aren’t things different for me? Why haven‘t my prayers been answered? Has He even heard me?” While it’s true that our position with God is inherited, He has charged us with activating His favor. Think of those best friends again. How does it make you feel when they speak highly of you? How about when they go out of their way to show appreciation? We all like to feel that we matter to the people we care about most. I know that when a friend shows appreciation or celebrates me, it makes me want to do all that I can to ensure that our relationship stays strong and in tact. This inner desire to maintain close relationship may manifest itself in any number of ways from “just because” gifts to heartfelt hugs, not as repayment, but as an expression of genuine love and delight for the person. God feels the same way. But all that we can offer God is praise and gratitude --- and that’s all we need to activate His preferential treatment in our lives. He’s given us the ability while He holds all of the response ability. Our praise, worship, and thanksgiving will invoke a response from Heaven that is unexplainable. Because God has chosen you, others will choose you. Doors will open. Promotion and elevation will come. Miracles will happen. (Psalm 84:11) Though you may not always be popular, because you are the Lord’s favorite, His favor will be evident in your life. He’s obligated Himself to you, simply because of His personal choice. If you continually employ His responsibility to you, the favor that follows, surrounds, and even waits for you, will be undeniable.

GOD’S PROMISES CONCERNING HIS FAVOR:

1. God’s favor is eternal.
Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life.

2. Wisdom guarantees God’s favor.
Proverbs 9:35
Whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.

3. God favors marriage.
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.

4. Disobedience deactivates God’s favor.
Jeremiah 16:11-13
“Because your fathers have forsaken Me,” says the Lord . . . “and have forsaken me and not kept My law . . . Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favor.”

5. Living in God’s favor makes prayer more effective.
Exodus 33:17
So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”