God grants favor and grace to those He can trust with His purposes. God loves us all equally, but His favor in our lives differs from person to person. We can work with God to receive more of His grace and favor in our lives.

God sought a virgin to give birth to His Son and chose Mary because she could be trusted with a special purpose. The angel Gabrielle declares to Mary:

“Rejoice highly favored (charitoō) one, the Lord is with you … you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:28 NKJV

Mary found favor with God. The Greek word charitoō means to be grace-bestowed. It refers to being or becoming the recipient of God’s goodwill.

“For you have found favor (cháris) with God.” Luke 1:30 NKJV

The English word ‘favor’ originates from the Greek word cháris, which can mean acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, or grace. It signifies a gift, grace, or benefit bestowed by God.

Your assignment has a purpose; God’s blessings and anointing are for a purpose—that others would be blessed. Purpose serves as your pathway to a fulfilled destiny.

Jesus Increased in Favor

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52 NKJV

Consider that Jesus had no blemish, no evil, and was without sin. Yet, He increased in favor, why?

Jesus was both fully divine and fully human, being the Son of God and the Son of Man. During His time on earth in human form as the Son of Man, He depended on the guidance and strength of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus modeled how we could walk with God, led by the Spirit, operating from God’s Kingdom realm, impacting our world.

Therefore, if Jesus needed to grow in favor, then we certainly do!

Jesus serves as our example for living in God’s Kingdom and carrying out ministry here on earth. Like Jesus, we should grow in favor with both God and people. Each of us has a role to fulfill!

Would it be fair to think of Jesus as a believer growing in Christ during His childhood? Yes!

Jesus performed miraculous works both as God and as the Son of Man; therefore, they serve as an invitation for us to live in His Spirit-led and empowered lifestyle.

Prov. 12:2 says “A good man obtains favor from the Lord …” (NKJV)

The word ‘obtains’ also means to ‘draw out’. Additionally, grace and favor are used interchangeably in Hebrew in the Old Testament.
We could say then that “A good man draws out grace from the Lord …”

We draw out His grace when our ways please Him. The Lord says, “Draw near, and I’ll draw near to you.” As we draw near, we ‘draw out’ His grace and favor in our lives.

Can you recall a time when God showed you favor in a situation? Would you like to experience more favor? Draw close to Him! Spend time in His Word and in His presence!

Notice in Luke 2:52 that Jesus grew in favor with God and people. Favor, then, has two aspects – that which comes from people and that which comes from God alone.

While the favor of man can be fickle, God’s favor abides with those who continue to walk with Him. God’s favor reflects His character and serves a specific purpose. He grants favor to those He trusts with His plans and purposes.

Year of the Lord’s Favor … Expect God’s favor and grace in 2026!

The Lord reminded me at the beginning of this year of a passage in Isaiah that refers to Jesus.

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn… Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV

The phrase “The year of the Lord’s favor” comes from Isaiah 61:2 and Luke 4:19 and signifies a time of God’s grace, freedom from sin, comfort for those who are hurting, renewal, and spiritual liberation. It begins with Jesus Christ’s first coming and continues to the present. It relates to the Old Testament idea of the Jubilee, a time for canceling debts and restoring lands, but is spiritually applied to believers, offering redemption and new life through faith.

Jesus declared this prophecy fulfilled in Himself, marking the beginning of God’s saving work. It signifies spiritual freedom from sin, darkness, and oppression, bringing healing to the brokenhearted and liberty to captives. As Christians, we believe we are living in an era when God’s saving grace is available, bridging the gap between Jesus’ first and second coming. While rooted in Israel’s history, this grace extends to all who believe in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, for salvation and good works.

Therefore, in Christ, each day and each year is the year of God’s favor! What if we approach 2026 as though the favor of God rests on His people for His purposes this year? What if we truly believed it was “the year of the Lord’s favor”? The church would impact our world this year in unprecedented ways!

Psalm 84 is important this year!

New Year’s Day, the Lord told me, “Psalm 84 is important this year!” This Psalm, a song of praise sung by the ancient Hebrews as they traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, expresses a desire for God’s presence.

1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God… 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Selah … 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory [bestow favor and honor (NIV)]; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:1-2, 4, 10-12 NKJV

Notice these key phrases: My soul longs, even faints for the Lord’s presence… my heart and flesh cry out for the living God! Blessed are those who dwell in His house or His presence. They are desperate for the presence of God!

To these, God will give grace or favor, and honor! To those who desire Him above everything else! It’s the year of the Lord’s favor!

Question: Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your entire being craved the presence of God? His tangible presence?

This year, aim to recommit your life to Christ and to desire His presence above all else. His favor and grace will grow in your life, bringing you closer to a fulfilled destiny!

Next week, I’ll look at others in the Bible who learned that favor comes to those who understand God’s purpose.