The Year of The Lord’s Favor

I had been searching for my word of the year, but every word I tried seemed off. Each word was perfect, but each seemed contrived; like they were meant for me. I looked at growth, soar, joy, present, love, enjoyment, and a lot more, but none felt right. Can you tell I said that in a huff?

Monday morning, I sat down to listen to a sermon on YouTube, and he was talking about Jabez. During his sermon, he was giving out different Bible verses, and one of them changed everything.

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

When I read these verses, I was filled with joy, light, and splendor, and I knew that the Lord had provided me a word for the year…favor!

Some of the definitions of favor are:

• The state of being approved or held in regard:
• Excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment:
• Something done or granted out of goodwill rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act:
• Friendly or well-disposed regard; goodwill:

Those definitions come from a dictionary, but I am more interested in what the Bible has to say about favor.

Psalm 5:12

¹² Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 84:11

¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

Proverbs 12:2

² Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.

1 Peter 3:12

¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

So, what does living in the Lord’s favor look like?

To live in the Lord’s favor means experiencing the blessings and favor of God in your life. This can take many different forms and may include material blessings, such as financial prosperity or good health. But more importantly, living in the Lord’s favor means experiencing the peace, joy, and fulfillment that come from being in the right relationship with God and living a life aligned with His will. It means having a sense of purpose and direction and being able to weather the storms of life with confidence and hope, knowing that God is with you and has a plan for your life.

Living in the Lord’s favor also involves cultivating a heart that’s open to God’s leading and guidance. It means being willing to listen to Him and follow His direction, even when it may be difficult or uncomfortable. It means being humble and recognizing your dependence on God, and trying to live in a way that reflects your trust in Him.

To live in the Lord’s favor is to have a close relationship with God and to seek to follow His will for your life. It means striving to live in a way that pleases Him and brings Him glory. Seeking to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s word and seeking to live out your faith in all aspects of your life. It means being obedient to God’s commands and seeking to honor Him in all that you do.

I’m starting each morning by reading Isaiah 61. I want to be called an Oak of Righteousness and to proclaim the good news of the Lord. I’m thrilled that the Lord gave me my word of the year, and I anxiously await to see the favor He bestows on me this coming year.

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!