The word favor in the bible is the same as the word grace. It means "to be found favorable and acceptable."
If we can understand favor for what is really is, we will be able to understand God and our relationship with Him even better. When you don't understand where you stand in relation to God then it can cause unnecessary strain on your entire relationship with Him. There are a lot of people that have accepted this unrealistic idea of God. We have been taught that our relationship with God is based on what we do for Him rather than what He did for us. Understand that God is not mad at you, He's mad about you!
Let's see what His intentions are for us.
#1.His intention for us is Good will (good choices, delight, pleasure,satisfaction.)
Luke 2:14- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
This was a declaration of the heavenly host referring to the birth of Jesus. They were letting us know what the birth of Jesus was bringing.
Peace and Good will TOWARD men... They were telling us that Jesus was coming with favor FROM God TOWARD men. He put an end to the friction between God and man.
Now we know that God does not want us to be miserable, and we don't always have to figure a new way to get Him to favor you.
#2. His intention for us is to have life.
John 10:10- The thief cometh not, but for the steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they they might have it more abundantly.
Here Jesus Himself tells us what He came to earth for. He came to give us life. We all know that Jesus came to give us eternal life with Him for those who believe, but Jesus wants us to know that our new life begins when we receive Him. You don't have to wait until you die before you can benefit from the life that He has imparted to us.
The word life here in John 10 means "active vigorous blessed life".
That's the kind of life He wants you to have, but is that the life that you are living?
We have to change the way we think God sees us. We need transformation in life and transformation comes when we change the way we think. (Romans 12:2)
God loves you and has the best intentions for you. Allow Him to lead you out of a life of oppression fear, and intimidation and into a life of freedom, blessing, and excitement.
