Keys to Extra-Ordinary Favor

If I called you on the phone today and asked how I could pray for you, what would you say? Do you need God’s healing touch? A financial breakthrough? The restoration of your marriage? Deliverance from an addiction? The salvation of your kids or other loved ones?

While it may not be on your mind as much as some other need you’re facing, the one thing we all so desperately need is God’s favor!

When you’re living in the favor of God, everything else in your life is impacted. He reenergizes your spiritual life and transforms your health, finances, and relationships as well.

This is why David could boldly say, “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:10). The only need we have is a “seek the LORD” need!

To David, this was more than a nice theory. Because he had drawn near to the Lord as his Good Shepherd, he lacked nothing (Psalm 23:1). He was so confident of God’s ongoing favor in his life that he proclaimed, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (v. 6 NIV).

David experienced this same kind of favor when the prophet Samuel was seeking God’s direction on who Israel’s next king should be (1 Samuel 16). Samuel knew the king was to be chosen from among the sons of Jesse, so he must have been puzzled when none of the seven oldest sons met with God’s approval. He told Jesse: “The Lord has not chosen these … Are these all the sons you have?” (vs. 10-11).

Apparently, no one had thought to invite David to this important gathering. He was the youngest son, and he was out tending his father’s sheep.

But while everyone else was looking at factors like age and rank, God was looking for a man after His heart … who would fulfill His purposes (Acts 13:22, 36).

God was looking for a person He could show His favor to!

Friend, I hope you are such a person. Perhaps you feel like you’re just taking care of some stinky old sheep in a forgotten place today … but tomorrow your royalty may be revealed.

From Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary Favor

Hopefully you’ve already tasted of the Lord’s favor. But I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use MORE of His amazing favor. We’re all seeking more love … more power … more blessings … more peace of mind … and better health and family relationships.

Perhaps today you’re going through hard times and feel like protesting at this point, “David, you don’t understand. I’ve tried to serve the Lord faithfully for many years, yet I don’t sense His favor at all right now.”

Believe me, I have faced similar times. And so did the Bible’s greatest heroes.

In fact, God’s favor often shines the brightest amid dark days. Let me explain …

Noah lived in an exceptionally evil generation, and the Lord was about to pour out His judgment on humanity (Genesis 6:1-8). “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (v. 8). What an encouraging lesson: Even if judgment, destruction, disease, or financial lack are all around, you can experience God’s blessings, protection, and favor.

Esther lived in extremely dangerous times, and powerful men like Haman were plotting to eradicate the Jewish people. But “Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her” (Esther 2:15). Later, that amazing favor enabled her to successfully petition the king for the Jews’ safety. And just as Esther experienced, God wants to give you His favor “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)—so you can make a greater impact on the people around you.

Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians and removed from his homeland. He could have thought the Lord had abandoned him, but instead we’re told, “God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel” (Daniel 1:9). This is a wonderful reminder that God’s favor can come to you regardless of where you are or how difficult your circumstances may be!

Taking a Step of Faith

I continue to pray for you this month, asking God to touch every area of your life with extraordinary favor. We believe in the power of prayer, and we’ve seen the Lord give breakthroughs to countless partners when they contacted our International Prayer Center to intercede for their needs.

But we’ve also seen another spiritual principle at work in the pages of Scripture and in our own lives:

Sometimes a step of faith and obedience is needed in order to release God’s extra-ordinary favor!

People in the Bible were sometimes asked to do unusual things to receive their breakthroughS. Things like dipping seven times in the Jordan River … giving their last bit of food to a prophet … stretching out their withered hand … washing in the pool of Siloam … or sowing a sacrificial financial seed. But whenever a person exercised their faith and obeyed the Lord, He did amazing things in their life!

What step of faith is God asking you to take today? If you are looking for Him to release His extraordinary favor, He may be waiting for you to draw near to Him. Or He may be looking for you to repent of something or forgive someone of an offense they caused you.

I’m convinced that as you seek the Lord and sow seeds of faith, expectancy, and obedience, a great harvest of favor will come into your life.

I’m praying for God’s favor to be released in your life and circumstances in an extraordinary way today!

God bless you,

David Cerullo