I’ll never forget the time a friend and I were talking about our walks with the Lord, when she said, “I think I’m the Lord’s favorite.” That was years ago, and I still remember it so vividly because it was a shocking statement and I had never heard anyone dare to voice such a claim. While it could’ve come across like an arrogant boast, somehow she managed to say it with a sense of awe and wonder—as if she couldn’t believe she had received such favor from the Lord.
Is God’s favor only for his favorites? The Bible often links favor and grace. In Hebrew, the word hēn is translated ‘favor,’ and in the New Testament, the Greek word charis is translated both grace and favor. In other words, God’s favor is his grace, given to his children as free, unmerited love and blessing through his Son, Jesus Christ. The ultimate act of God’s favor is when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, receiving his gracious invitation of salvation. This opens up all the other doors of his favor—the blessings of his grace that he lavishes on his children.
We don’t unlock his favor by performing certain rituals, giving money, or praying specific formulas. His favor is not a ticket to wealth or ease. Instead, it’s God’s gracious offer of more of himself in both the joys and sorrows of life. God’s Word invites us to pray for it, seek after it, and ask boldly for it. Here are twenty verses that illustrate what God’s favor means and how his people experience it.
20 Bible Verses on Receiving Favor from God
- Psalm 84:11 (ESV)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. - Psalm 90:17 (ESV)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! - Genesis 6:8 (ESV)
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. - Luke 2:52 (ESV)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. - Genesis 18:3 (ESV)
And said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. - Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Psalm 106:4 (ESV)
Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, - Daniel 1:9 (ESV)
And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, - Proverbs 3:34 (ESV)
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. - Numbers 6:25-26 (ESV)
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. - Luke 1:30 (ESV)
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. - Proverbs 3:4 (ESV)
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. - Proverbs 12:2 (ESV)
A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. - 1 Samuel 2:26 (ESV)
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. - Isaiah 49:8 (ESV)
Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, - Judges 6:17 (ESV)
And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. - Genesis 39:21 (ESV)
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. - Ezra 7:6 (ESV)
This Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. - James 4:6 (ESV)
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - Exodus 33:12 (ESV)
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’
God’s favor is his smile upon you
If we have God’s favor, we have all we need. Charles Spurgeon said,
“In his favor is life. … We die like withered flowers when the Lord frowns, but his sweet smile revives us as the dews refresh the field. His favor not only sweetens and cheers life, but it is life itself, the very essence of life. Who would know life, let him seek the favor of the Lord.”
Do you have his smile? If you are in Christ, his smile is upon you. You have his favor and life in his name. Delight in being in his presence, and you’ll feel the warmth of his smile and the blessings of his favor.
God’s favor is for his children—and he doesn’t just have one favorite, he has billions.
Cara
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One Response
Thank you so much for this beautiful blog post! I had to smile at your last line about God not just having one favorite but billions. In my family growing up, there was a quiet rivalry—we all longed to be loved, and somehow it seemed like one was Dad’s favorite and another Mom’s… and poor me, always working hard just to feel loved. But with the Lord it’s not like that at all. His love is high enough, wide enough, deep enough for all His children (Ephesians 3:18). 🌿✨