40 DAYS OF ABUNDANT LIVING – LIVING FAVOR MINDED – PART 2

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. - Rom. 8:28

Joel Osteen told the story of God’s favor of an instance in 2001, when they wanted to expand their television outreach on one particular network. He asked the man who represents them to contact the network and check into acquiring the Sunday-night eleven o'clock time slot.

Their representative said, "Joel, there's just no way. That's a national network. That time is much too valuable. They'll never give it up."

Joel told him, "Well, the Bible says, 'We have not because we ask not.' So let's give it a try."

Their agent flew to the network headquarters and met with the executives there. They responded just as predicted: "No, that time slot is too valuable. We can't let you have that. You'll have to try something else."

Joel said, "Fine. We'll just believe for the favor of God." Every day, he declared, "Father, I thank You that Your favor is coming in a new way. Your favor is opening doors that men say are impossible to open. I thank You that Your favor is causing this company to give us preferential treatment." Month after month went by and he never heard a word. But he didn't get discouraged. he didn't give up. He just kept hoping in faith. He knew that if he didn't give up, God promised that divine favor was coming. He may not have been able to see it, but he knew it was on its way.

About six months later he got a call from their representative. He said, "Something must be happening, because the television network asked me to come back and meet with them again."

"Great," Joel said. "But I've got to tell you I've changed my mind. I don't want the eleven o'clock time slot anymore. I want the ten o'clock time period. I want to follow their number one show."

"Joel, are you kidding?" their agent said with a laugh. "Do you know what they're going to say to me when I ask them for that?"

"Listen," Joel said, "we've got the favor of God. God's opening doors that no man can shut. You go in there with confidence, with boldness, knowing that God's favor is all over you."

He laughed and said, "All right. I'll do it."

He met with the network officials and called Joel afterward. He said, "Joel, I did my best. I gave it my all, but they still turned us down."

Joel said, "That's fine. We'll just believe. I know the favor of God is coming. I know if I don't give up, divine favor will make a way."

About a month after that meeting, their representative called them. He was on cloud nine! He said, "You'll never believe what happened. The owner of that network just called me. Not the sales representative, but the owner, tracked me down in an airport. And he said, 'Listen, I know you've been interested in that Sunday night time period, and I really like that young minister. So I had them clear that slot especially for you. You can start whenever you want to.' "

That is the favor of God. Never give up on God. The Bible says, "If you will hope to the end, divine favor will come.” When you really understand that you have this favor available to you, living with confidence comes much more easily. You can dare to be bold. You'll ask for things you normally don't ask for. And you'll view your adversities in a new way. Deep down inside you'll know you have an advantage in life. You've got an edge. You have the favor of God.

We are continuing on what we discussed yesterday. To live favor minded, you should:
1. Be grateful
The Bible says, “…God will work everything to come in your favor.” He takes the good, the bad and the ugly and works them out so that you experience His goodness and mercy. The favor of God causes other people to extend preferential treatment to you. When those kinds of things happen, be grateful. Don't take God's favor for granted. Express your gratitude to Him. Thank Him for assisting you. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

2. Live with an attitude of faith
In life sometimes we face severed adversities like Job, unfair treatment like Joseph and blatant prejudices like Daniel. But in the midst of all these situations, the favor of God came like a flood. God favor comes in the midst of life’s challenges. If you will live with an attitude of faith, like the saints of old, before long God's favor is going to show up, and your difficult situation will turn around to your benefit. Don't give up. Keep on believing, expecting, and declaring. Keep living favor minded. You may not be able to see it right now. Things may not look good in the natural, but the good news is that if you keep expecting it and declaring it, God's favor will show up. And when God's favor shows up, things are going to change. The favor of God will cause you to rise up out of your problems. The favor of God will keep your enemies from defeating you. Regardless of your circumstances, keep boldly declaring, "God, I know Your favor is coming my way."

Shalom,

Rev. Obadiah Swen
Pastor, BWOC-VA

Application and Prayer for Today
1. Reflect on the favor of God in the life of Joseph. Consider the progression of his life and the tread of God’s favor: A Prince in his father’s house – thrown into the Pit because of his brothers’ hatred – worked as a slave in Potiphar’s House – thrown into Prison because he was wrongfully accused by Potiphar’s wife – invited into Pharaoh’s Palace because of his ability to interpret dreams – made Prime Minister over Egypt because of his wisdom. Genesis 37, 39-41.
2. Read Daniel 1:8-21
3. Pray that God will overshadow you with His favor. Eph. 1:15—23, Eph. 3:14-21