We spend much of our lives trying to get people to like us. The desire to be loved and accepted is in our God-given design. We want to be appreciated.
It’s why we hated being picked last at school. It’s the reason we search for more “friends” on our favorite social media platforms and have developed a social phenomenon called F.O.M.O. (The fear of missing out on what other people are doing.)
As a result, we go to enormous efforts to win the favor and acceptance of the people around us. The problem is that we can take that same mentality into our relationships with God. We spend our lives trying to get God to like us so he’ll show us his favor.
Here’s the good news. God likes you, and he wants to show you his favor. Although you can’t earn God’s favor, you can put yourself in a great position to receive it.
Isaiah 66:1-2 says, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”
Here’s how to get God’s favor in your life:
1. You must humble yourself.
I know, I know! You’re the humblest person you know, right? The truth is, everyone thinks they are humble. But is it true?
There are two questions you must ask yourself to find the answer.
The first is; Are you humble before God?
2 Chronicles 7:14 gives us the steps we need to take to humble ourselves before God. It says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In other words, stop thinking you can do it without God.
The second is; Are you humble before others?
We often think we’re better than the people around us. We believe it gives us value and superiority!
1 Peter 5:5 tells us that instead of being arrogant, you should “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humility isn’t necessarily thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. God opposes proud people who puff themselves up over others. As a result, he withholds his favor.
2. You must have a contrite spirit.
We don’t use the word ‘contrite’ too much in our everyday lives. It simply means to express remorse or to be repentant.
In other words, a contrite person recognizes the gravity of their sin; they feel badly about it and repent to God. God is the enemy of sin, and he wants you to acknowledge your guilt before him so you can receive his favor of grace.
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Confessing your sin is contriteness, and forgiveness is God’s favor.
God says in Isaiah 57:15 that he lives “in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
If you ever forget that you’re a sinner saved by the grace of God, you’ve lost your contrite spirit and God’s favor.
3. You must honor God’s word.
What’s your view on the Bible? The answer to that question will decide the quality of your life, spiritual growth, and God’s favor.
What you should know is that God has a very high view of his word.
In Isaiah 55:11, he makes a powerful proclamation about his word. He said, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Since God’s word is NEVER empty, ALWAYS accomplishes his desire, and ALWAYS achieves his purpose, you should probably sit up and pay attention.
As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
If you want God’s favor, then you need to have a high view of his word.
