What Does Favor Look Like? ·
FAVOR — approval, an act of kindness beyond what is usual; good deed, act of kindness, courtesy, honor, gratify,
Ever heard these words “Will you do me a FAVOR?” More than likely they’re asking for an act of kindness. Then there’s the party FAVOR — a small gift given to the guests at a party as a gesture of thanks for their attendance or a memento of the occasion. More than any other FAVOR, that I seek on a daily basis, is the FAVOR of GOD aka THE FOG! We pray for God’s favor in both good times and bad — that we’d sense the reality that we’re one of God’s children, one of God’s favorites, and wait expectantly for what God will do for us.
On this “mission” that Karen and I have been on — we have sought God’s FAVOR for the timing and the wisdom on advertising, organizing, among the zillions of other “have to’s” to put on an estate sale for our dear Mother. Right from the get go, we were awakened to a sense of divine expectation. Though God always works in our lives in countless ways, revealing so many wonders — there’s just something about living each day with holy anticipation.
Praying for God’s FAVOR instead of wishful thinking has certainly made way for His favor over the last two days. We expected to have a 3-day sale but our first day exceeded our greatest expectations and then yesterday, Day 2 — which seemed would be rained out, only proved that rain doesn’t matter to diehard Estate Sale goers. A prayer marked by faith is never about what happens on our terms or timelines, but God’s. We prayed throughout the preparation of this sale for the Favor of God. And we found God’s wisdom AND favor — His goodness and mercy not just following us, but chasing us down.
For just the ideal person to stop by that needed that one item we had. Or the one little item that completed a set of something or that school teacher going through the Oklahoma Teacher’s Strike that found exactly what she wanted for her children, or the next door neighbor who had her five grandchildren this weekend — and what a great place to take each one, individually, to the sale and give them $5 each to buy what they wanted, or the lady who just HAD to have a freezer quickly, and our ad popped up. Or the Mom and daughter whose washer & dryer were beyond repairs and ours was priced right for them. Or the couple who was in for the Gun Show that just happened to see our signs and stopped by, only to find items they had been looking for.
Really? God’s goodness and mercy are following us? His FAVOR is chasing us? Isn’t that just like our Heavenly Father — pursuing us and chasing us with His desire to bless us and do good things for us? It’s not just enough to be followed by His goodness and mercy. No, He is relentless in pursuing us — every single day, and He wants to catch us. So, let’s look for Him. We’ll surely find Him as we notice those times when God’s goodness and mercy catch up with us. Let’s slow down enough today…..so goodness, mercy and God’s favor can catch us…..and never let us go!
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11