Living in the Power of God's Favor

Devotional

Day 1: You Are the Object of God’s Affection

God’s love for you is not abstract or distant; it is personal, intentional, and active. He demonstrated this love by sending His only Son, Jesus, so that you might have eternal life. This is not just a general truth for the world, but a specific revelation for you—if you were the only person on earth, God would still have sent Jesus for you. Embracing this truth means recognizing that you are the object of His affection, chosen and cherished, and that His favor is His love in action toward you. Let this revelation sink deep into your heart and transform the way you see yourself and your relationship with God. [16:06]

John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to believe that you are truly the object of God’s affection? How might your day change if you lived with the confidence that God’s love and favor are personally directed toward you?

Day 2: God’s Favor Means No Condemnation

When you receive God’s forgiveness, He removes your sins completely and remembers them no more. Yet, many continue to live under the weight of condemnation, bringing up past failures and feeling unworthy. God’s favor means you are justified, made righteous, and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. You are not defined by your past mistakes but by the righteousness of God given to you through Christ. Let go of self-condemnation and embrace the freedom and favor that comes from being fully forgiven and accepted by God. [24:24]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: What is one past mistake or failure you keep bringing up before God? Can you choose today to accept His forgiveness and walk in the freedom of no condemnation?

Day 3: God’s Favor Surrounds You as a Shield

God’s favor is not just a feeling; it is a tangible shield that surrounds and protects you. This favor gives you an advantage, opening doors, changing rules, and providing what you need in every situation—even when you feel unqualified or outnumbered. His favor is a shield for the righteous, covering you in every circumstance and giving you confidence that nothing can separate you from His love. Declare daily that God’s favor surrounds you, and watch as He works on your behalf in ways you could never orchestrate on your own. [28:10]

Psalm 5:12 (ESV)
“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to see God’s favor as a shield today? What would it look like to boldly declare His favor over that area and trust Him to work?

Day 4: The Power of Decree—Speak God’s Favor

Your words have power to establish what you believe and to align your heart and circumstances with God’s promises. When you decree God’s favor, blessing, and truth over your life, you are not just speaking empty words—you are partnering with heaven to see God’s will established. Just as you would declare your love and commitment in marriage daily, so too should you declare God’s favor and promises over your life every day. Train your spirit to agree with God’s reality, and let your declarations shape your mindset, actions, and outcomes. [45:33]

Job 22:28 (ESV)
“You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.”

Reflection: What is one promise of God you need to start declaring over your life every day? How can you make this a daily habit to align your heart and mind with God’s truth?

Day 5: Favor for Purpose—Let Your Light Shine

God’s favor is not just for your benefit; it is given so that you can fulfill your purpose and bring glory to Him in every area of your life. Whether at work, at home, or in your community, you are positioned to let your light shine and point others to God’s goodness. Every task, no matter how ordinary, becomes an act of worship when done for the Lord. Live intentionally, expecting God’s favor to meet your needs and open doors, and let your life be a testimony that draws others to glorify your Father in heaven. [01:07:42]

Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

Reflection: What is one ordinary task or responsibility you can approach today as an act of worship, intentionally inviting God’s favor and seeking to glorify Him through it?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the reality and power of God’s favor in our lives. We began by standing together in faith for healing, remembering that by Jesus’ stripes, we are healed, and that faith is not just for salvation but for every promise God has given—including healing, peace, joy, and favor. Faith is something we develop and exercise in every area, not just for eternity but for our daily walk.

We reflected on the importance of assembling together, not picking and choosing which parts of God’s word to obey, but embracing the fullness of His commands—especially loving our neighbor, whoever that may be in the moment. Life is a journey of revelation, and one of the greatest revelations is that we are the object of God’s affection. Just as I am the object of my wife’s affection, so each of us is the object of God’s love. This is not just a theological idea but a truth to be lived and experienced.

God’s favor is His love in action. He is not just a hearer of our prayers but a doer—He acts on our behalf. His favor is not limited by our qualifications or circumstances; it is a shield, an advantage, and it opens doors that no one can shut. Even in the hard places, God’s favor is present, and nothing can separate us from His love—not our failures, not our past, not even our own condemnation. When God forgives, He forgets, and we must learn to live free from self-condemnation.

We heard a testimony of God’s favor in the mission field, where God provided exactly what was needed, far beyond what seemed possible. This is the nature of favor—it is for purpose, for mission, for God’s glory. Our words have power; what we decree in faith is established. Just as my mother would declare “bless my time” in every circumstance, we are called to declare God’s promises over our lives until our hearts and circumstances align with heaven’s reality.

Living in the flow of favor means expecting God’s goodness every day, not just remembering it from years past. It means acknowledging and testifying to God’s favor in the small and big things, turning every ordinary task into worship. Favor is for purpose—wherever we are, whatever we do, we are positioned to glorify God. Let us live intentionally, declaring and believing that we are loved, highly favored, and established in His purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith Is Developed for Every Promise Faith is not a one-time event for salvation alone; it is a muscle to be exercised for every promise of God—healing, peace, joy, and favor. Just as we develop faith to forgive or to have peace, we must also develop faith to walk in God’s favor. This means actively choosing to believe and act on God’s word in every area of life, not just the ones that come easily. [01:06]
2. You Are the Object of God’s Affection Understanding that you are the object of God’s affection changes everything. God’s love is not generic or distant; it is personal and intentional, directed at you as if you were the only one. This revelation brings security and confidence, knowing that God’s favor is not based on your performance but on His unchanging love. [16:06]
3. Favor Means No Condemnation—Live Free God’s favor is inseparable from His forgiveness. When you confess and turn from sin, God not only forgives but forgets, casting your sins as far as the east is from the west. Living in self-condemnation is a denial of this favor; instead, embrace your identity as the righteousness of God, worthy and loved, and refuse to rehearse your failures. [23:34]
4. Decree God’s Promises—Your Words Establish Reality There is power in what you declare. When you consistently decree God’s promises over your life, you are aligning your heart, mind, and circumstances with heaven’s reality. This is not a one-time act but a daily discipline—what you speak in faith becomes established, and your declarations shape your experience of God’s favor. [41:22]
5. Favor Is for Purpose—Glorify God in Every Place God’s favor is not just for personal comfort but for fulfilling His purpose. Wherever you are—at work, at home, in the marketplace—you are on a mission field, positioned to glorify God. Intentional living transforms ordinary tasks into worship, and as you walk in favor, your life becomes a testimony that points others to God’s goodness. [67:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Developing Faith for Every Promise
[04:12] - Embracing the Fullness of God’s Word
[08:30] - Revelation: You Are God’s Favorite
[12:45] - God’s Love in Action: The Nature of Favor
[16:06] - Experiencing Favor in Hard Places
[20:29] - Favor Means No Condemnation
[23:34] - Living Free from Self-Condemnation
[25:43] - Nothing Can Separate You from God’s Love
[27:31] - Favor as a Shield and Advantage
[32:15] - Testimony: God’s Provision in the Mission Field
[41:22] - The Power of Decree
[45:33] - Training Your Spirit to Agree with God
[48:45] - Daily Declarations and Living in the Flow
[51:46] - Living in the Flow of Favor
[67:42] - Favor for Purpose: Glorifying God Everywhere
[69:25] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:16 (ESV) — > “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

2. Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
> “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?... For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

3. Psalm 5:12 (ESV)
> “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

Observation Questions

In John 3:16, what does God’s love lead Him to do for the world?
According to Romans 8:31-32, what is the connection between God giving His Son and His willingness to give us “all things”?
In Psalm 5:12, what image is used to describe God’s favor, and what does that suggest about its effect in our lives?
The sermon described favor as “God’s love in action.” What are some specific ways the pastor said God’s favor shows up in everyday life? [[30:53]]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor said, “You are the object of God’s affection.” How does understanding this change the way a person sees themselves and their relationship with God? [[16:06]]
Romans 8:1 and 8:34-39 talk about no condemnation and nothing separating us from God’s love. How does this truth help someone live free from self-condemnation? [[23:34]]
The sermon emphasized the power of declaring God’s promises out loud. Why do you think speaking God’s truth over your life is important, and how might it shape your experience? [[41:22]]
The pastor shared a story about God’s favor providing for a need in the mission field. What does this teach about the purpose of favor in our lives? [[32:15]]

Application Questions

The pastor said faith is like a muscle that needs to be developed for every promise of God, not just salvation. What is one area of your life where you need to exercise faith for God’s promise (healing, peace, joy, favor, etc.)? What’s a first step you can take this week? [[01:06]]
Do you truly believe you are the object of God’s affection? If not, what holds you back from believing this? How might your daily life look different if you lived from this truth? [[16:06]]
The sermon said, “Favor means no condemnation—live free.” Is there a past failure or area of self-condemnation you keep rehearsing? What would it look like to give that to Jesus and refuse to pick it back up? [[23:34]]
The pastor talked about the power of declaring God’s promises, like “God’s favor surrounds me as a shield.” What is one promise from God’s Word you want to start declaring over your life each day? [[41:22]]
The testimony about the mission field showed favor is for purpose, not just comfort. Where has God placed you (work, home, school, community) that could be your “mission field”? How can you look for and expect God’s favor there this week? [[32:15]]
The pastor encouraged us to acknowledge and testify to God’s favor in both small and big things. Can you share a recent example where you saw God’s favor? How did you respond? [[56:44]]
Living in the flow of favor means expecting God’s goodness every day. What is one practical way you can remind yourself to expect and look for God’s favor in your daily routine? [[51:46]]

Sermon Clips

``If you were the only one on earth if you were the only you were the only one just you he would still send his son Jesus to save you that's how much you're the object of his affection. [00:15:45] (17 seconds) #LovedIndividually

We are somebody special. Quit running yourself down. Don't run yourself down. Don't talk ugly about yourself. Don't talk about if you're... How you're a failure. I never get this. I never got that. Don't talk about how unworthy you are. That I'm just... I'm just... I'm a bad, bad guy. Yes, you once was a bad, bad person. I once was a bad, bad person. Yes, I once was, but now I'm made the righteousness of God. You are worthy. You are someone special. You still come humbly and hungry before God. But you are worthy. Surely, he's on your side. Psalms 512 says, Surely, you bless the righteous. You surround them with your favor as with the shield. Nothing can separate you from his love. [00:24:48] (72 seconds) #WorthyAndFavored

God's favor, it opens doors. It's like a shield. It opens doors that no man can shut. No man can shut. It opens doors. The favor of God, it's operating like that shield, as we just read. It changes rules and policies. The favor of God trumps seniority over qualification. I've got X amount of years in this, this, and this. I've got all these letters behind my name, and I have a doctorate. That's great. But the favor of God is upon my life. You can have all of that. But I rely on the favor of God. I have seen the favor of God trump seniority and qualification. I've seen it. I say, you're not qualified for that. Hmm. Okay. It's the favor of God. [00:28:56] (66 seconds) #FavorOpensDoors

Can you live in the flow of favor? Or is it just, I'm going to dip my toe? Do you want to live in the flow or dip a toe? A lot of people want to dip the toe. And say, yeah, I remember the favor of God. There was like three years ago. What about yesterday? What about last week? What about two days ago? Now, this ain't about me. And I can sit down and tell you every day last week and I can show you and tell you the favor of God, how it showed up in my life every day. Can you? God's no respecter person. He wants to do it for every single one of you. But you got to get in the flow and don't just dip a toe. [00:51:36] (47 seconds) #WhatIfIDidntBelieve

Expect favor every day. It says expect it. Live in anticipation. You have to have an anticipation. Acknowledge God's favor out loud. When it happens, favor of God. Acknowledge it out loud. Declare it. Speak it out. Don't just think, that's a favor of God. Hey, testify. Overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. The word of your testimony is, that's a favor of God. It's a favor of God. Someone pays for your meal. What do you say? Favor of God. Not, I just, oh, it's about time. Well, how do they do that? It's a favor of God. In all things, give praise and honor. Because your steps of a righteous man are ordered by the God. And so I know I'm where I need to be. God directed me here. And then someone moved. It says God will move upon the heart of men. It don't matter. I can give you scripture all day long. Favor of God. [00:56:37] (63 seconds) #FavorInEveryDetail

God's favor positions you to glorify him in everything everywhere every place job ministry family heb taco bell applebee's the mexican restaurant on vacation in florida destine wherever you go it positions you in a place to glorify him in everything that you do. [01:07:50] (33 seconds) #IntentionalWorshipLiving

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