On Sunday we learned that favor is the activity of the Holy Spirit on your behalf. It is when God looks at you and smiles. It is God’s blessing on something that you are doing. It is the invisible movement of God in your life and your circumstances. A moment defined by favor is when the Spirit does what you cannot. It makes your best effort more. Favor creates promotion, protection and provision. Favor opens doors that are shut. Favor enlightens the mind, energizes the heart and invigorates the body. It changes the trajectory of your life.

• What is something you are doing or are going to do that you need God’s favor for?

Pastor Russ highlighted three men in the Bible who had the trajectory of their life changed by moments of divine favor. When we look at these men’s lives closely we discover what leads to God’s favor in our life:

David had a powerful “secret life.” He was mighty in private worship. Favor is all about who you are in the secret with God when no one is looking, not just your devotional life. When you live powerfully in secret, you live with favor. Your secret life allows you to see a bigger God than others can see. 

Daniel had a fear of the Lord that was severe (intense). He refused to bow to worldly pressure because of his intense fear of God. His convictions weren’t selective. They were broad. They encompassed every area of his life (sometimes we like to choose what we are committed to and neglect the other parts of our lives Jesus is telling us to walk in obedience in). 

Joseph had a deep faithfulness magnified by endurance. He had a spirit of endurance and resilience through years of injustice. He had to wait with patience for God’s promise to be fulfilled.

• Which of these characters and their qualities speak most to you? Expound on what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do to live a life blessed with God’s favor. As you answer think about the following: 
• Is your secret life where it needs to be like David’s (think about your private worship and who you are when no one is looking)? Is the fear of the Lord “severe” in your life like Daniel (think about where you might be selective in your obedience but neglecting other things God wants you to obey)? Are you enduring faithfully like Joseph?