Favor

I've been learning a lot about favor in the last couple of years. Favor is defined as an attitude of approval or liking. That definition is so tame for the outpouring of goodness that flows into you when you are favored. The amazing feeling you get when your know you've done absolutely nothing to gain the love and approval of someone. The act of favor is when you receive of someone their approval and support when you don't deserve it.

You should think about that; the verb of favor directed at you. The noun of favor, meaning that someone is looking at you with the identifier that you are favored. Favor is not something to take lightly or to be dismissed. True favor is a gift. Favor is not a passive emotion or something to be lightly said, "I favor..." Favor takes action on the part of the person bestowing it, and respect and honor on the part of the favored.

When you favor something or someone, you go an extra step for your favored. You move over for the favored because when you look at that person or thing, they hold a special meaning to you. There is something about that person or thing that even when you don't want to, even when you may feel betrayed, something inside of you pushes you towards forgiveness. Pushes you to show mercy and long suffering to the recipient of your favor.

When you are favored, you are not only honored to be the recipient of extraordinary liking, approval and support. When you receive favor, you also receive responsibility. A responsibility not to take your favor for granted. You are now responsible to recognize the favor you have received and treat it with prize and reverence. It is important to think on the favor. Not to think on why you're favored; favor is a gift, not something earned. Think how to best honor your gift. What can you do to to show respect to the bestower of favor.

This process starts by looking dep into "receive". To receive is to take delivery of. When favor is offered, you can receive or you can dismiss the gift given. To receive favor, you own the favor and all that comes with it. In order to receive, you must first "recognize". To recognize is to identify from knowledge of appearance or character. You must first identify favor by knowing the appearance and character of favor.

What is the appearance of favor? Look into instances in your life. The moment in life when something shouldn't have gone your way, but suddenly there was intervention. An intervention you didn't deserve or earn, but that was gifted to you. That is what favor looks like. Favor looks like a miracle. Favor is the Red Sea parting. Favor is the cop who was set on writing you a ticket and gave you a warning. Favor is all of those moments when you reached your edge, and intervention arrived on your behalf.

What is the character of favor? What is the distinctive quality of favor? What makes it special? The characters of favor are mercifulness. Favor shows mercy, not rewarding you what you deserve, but what you need. Favor is longsuffering, because you may not get the hint at first and may require more and more mercy. Favor is love, giving compassion and charity in the face of foolish humanity. Favor is forgiveness, because sometimes you do that which you would not and don't do what you would. Favor recognizes your flesh is weak and mercifully, forgives you, with long suffering, over and over again.

That's only a small portion of the characteristics of favor. Favor is ever evolving and ever growing. When you are able to recognize the favor directed at you, more character will display itself. Soon you'll wnat to be the benefactor of favor; you'll look for opportunities to show favor. When you taste the wonderfulness of favor, you'll crave it. When you are able to receognize favor, you'll walk in a fog of favor.

The other thing to know about favor is that your benefactor may use others to favor you. Whether they know it or not, people bestow acts of favor on you everyday. This is like second hand favor. The Champ, the Absolute King of Favor is none other than the King of Kings, the Great I Am. Our Heavenly Father. He is also the best at using people to favor you; when He does it, its like double favor and wonderful.

The danger of favor... Losing it. If you fail to recognize the gift of favor, you fail to honor and respect it, you are in danger of losing it. When I say not showing respect to favor, it is to feel  that you are entitled to the gifts given to you. When you show a lack of respect to the bestower of favor. All things in life require appreciation to survive. If favor is taken for granted it will eventually leave you.

I hope after reading this, you'll look for favor. Not only look to receive, but look for opportunities to show favor. There may be a person you favor, no matter what. Don't fight it. Exercising the fundamentals of favor, will make you a stronger, better, human being.

***Disclaimer*** Don't fight the desire to favor until or unless showing this person favor becomes detrimental to your health, because they are unable to recognize or appreciate you or your gift of favor.