God's Love and Favor

Psalm 5:12 declares, “With favor God will compass you about as with a shield.”

Many times, the remarkable things that God does for His people are a manifestation of His favor. Because we want to honor God, we call what God does for us “the blessing of God.” We are right in calling the good things God has done for us “a blessing.” it’s essential to recognize that these blessings are motivated by God’s favor towards you, His child.

The good things you do for your children are motivated by your love and favor for your children. What you do for your children to bless them, you probably don’t do for the children of strangers.

Good people are naturally motivated to do good for those they love and favor. That’s what being a born-again Christian does. Being a child of God prompts God to show His great love and favor for you and prompts you to show love and favor to others. 

Keeping in mind our goal to become increasingly aware of God’s favor, I have intentionally inserted the word “favor” in places where I feel it is appropriate to emphasize that the blessings given result from God’s favor.

Psalm 27:9, You have not hidden your face from me (favor). You have not put your servant away in anger (favor). You have been my help (favor); you have not forsaken me, O God of my salvation (favor).

Psalm 27:10, If my father and mother were to abandon me, I know the Lord will take care of me (favor).

Psalm 27:11, Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and lead me along a safe path (favor), because I have many enemies.

Psalm 27:12, You don’t abandon me to my enemies (favor), who attack me with lies and threats.

Psalm 27:13, I know I will live to see the Lord’s goodness in this present life (favor).