Psalm 5:12
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
There is a famous saying that goes: “I’d rather be lucky than good.” This phrase is often used in the context of competitive sports but carries a deeper meaning applicable to many areas of life. The origin of this saying stems from the idea that receiving unexplainable favor or luck is often more desirable than achieving success solely through one’s effort and hard work.
Why? The reason for this is that people know that as humans their strengths can fail at any time. No matter how skilled you are or how sure you are about accomplishing your goals, you are still only human and that means you are limited and can fail at any moment.
As Christians, this principle resonates deeply. Relying on your strength alone can only take you so far. The truth is that life is full of uncertainties beyond our control.
Consider driving a car: your skill as a driver may be excellent, and you may do everything right to ensure your safety. However, you cannot control the millions of other drivers sharing the road with you.
Among them could be a reckless, distracted, or drunk driver, an inexperienced driver, or even someone operating a malfunctioning vehicle. Any one of these factors, entirely beyond your control, could result in an accident that alters your life forever.
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
This is why you need favor from God. God’s favor assures you that, although you share the road with many dangerous hazards around you, no harm will befall you because His hand is upon you. Favor from God tells you that, while others may struggle and fail in the same endeavors, you will succeed with ease. Your efforts may help you earn a paycheck, but it is God’s favor that sustains you, providing you with the strength and energy to go to work each day.
When you think about all the potential things that could go wrong in your life, remember to thank God for the things that don’t happen.
Think of the farmers who toil day and night to plant seeds, nurture them, and protect them, relying on God for the things they cannot control. Sunlight, water, and the natural environment that allows their crops to grow.
They plant, water, and care for their crops, but ultimately, they must depend on God to provide the conditions they cannot create themselves. The sunlight, rain, and natural cycles are all gifts from God, and He keeps the storms and winds from destroying the crops.
Similarly, your life is not sustained solely by your own work and efforts. The spark that gives you life is from God. The very breath you take, the air you inhale, and the water you drink are all gifts from God. Only He can control everything in your environment, ensuring that everything works together for your good.
This is why you must pray for God’s favor, acknowledging that it is not by your own strength, but by His grace and providence, that you are sustained.
Prayers for favor
Favor in life
Everlasting Father,
I thank you for my life, for your grace, and love that abound in my life. I come before you today asking for your divine favor to be my portion now and always. Let your favor guide me in every step I take. Shine your face upon me, dear God, and let me flourish in all that I do.
Let your favor rest upon my life, no matter where I am. Whether at home, in my community, at school, work, church, or anywhere I go. Let your presence be evident in every area of my life. Let others look at me and see the undeniable evidence of your favor, as everything works out for me in ways that can only be attributed to you. Thank you, dear God, for answering my prayer. I give you all the glory. Amen.
Favor in your marriage
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this marriage, and for the gift of my partner. Thank you for the union we share. I acknowledge that there are many challenges that can arise, and while I do all I can to make this marriage work, I recognize that there are things beyond our control. So, I humbly ask for your favor. Help us overcome the problems that are too big for us to handle on our own. Destroy every agent of separation that may try to come against us. Be our guide, our mediator, and our counselor. Strengthen this marriage, Lord, and let it endure. Fill our home with your grace, love, and peace.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Favor at your job
Dear Lord,
Please grant me favor at work. Give me the wisdom and grace to perform excellently and to grow in my career. Protect me from any evil scandals or plots at work. Watch over the company, Lord, and grant it special favor and dispensation. Keep it stable and let it achieve its targets. Guide it to withstand all economic difficulties and help it retain its employees. Let nothing cause the company to collapse. I pray that I may be secure in my position, and rise from glory to glory in this company.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Favor in parenting
Father Lord,
Please help me raise these children. I cannot do it by myself. I try my best to teach them good values, but they need Your guidance. Be with them wherever they go and protect them from harm. Keep them from bad company and help them communicate openly with me. Let them not be corrupted by evil. Let them not hide anything from me. Keep their hearts receptive to Your Word and Your principles. Help them listen to my advice and follow my direction. Soften their hearts, keep them humble, and help me raise them to be fulfilled, godly adults in the future.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Favor in your health
Dear Lord,
I thank you for my life. I pray for a divine breakthrough and divine health. Take over what I cannot control and make me well again. Break all demonic possessions on my health and destroy all curses affecting me. Let my body receive Your healing spirit, and let Your favor heal me beyond the understanding of man. I believe in Your power, and I trust You for my healing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Favor in your business
Dear Lord,
I pray for favor in my business. I ask that You guide my decisions so that they yield good results. Let breakthroughs come in this business, and help me reach all the set targets. Bring me good partners and surround me with those who will prosper this business. Remove any bad influences or people who want to bring it down, and protect it from disgrace. Let everyone who works here be filled with Your wisdom, and may this company grow from strength to strength. Bless me with endless profits, and let my testimony be a testament to Your grace and favor. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Favor during travel
Father Lord,
As I travel, I ask for Your mercy and divine favor. Favor me with protection against accidents, delays, and crashes. Favor me against any demonic activity, plans, or plots. Let me go and come back in one piece, safe from harm. Guard me from thieves and criminals, and surround me with Your angels. Let my journey be smooth, peaceful, and successful. I trust in Your protection, dear Lord, and thank You for keeping me safe in my travels.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
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Favor during childbirth
Dear Lord,
As I walk into the hospital, I ask that Your favor goes before me. Please grant me peace as I bring this child into the world. Remove any complications in my body and let me leave stronger than I came in. Death is not my portion, in Jesus' name.
Lord, I speak strength over my baby, and I speak divine grace upon my child. Let this delivery be smooth, and let everything go according to Your will. I cancel all human error and trust that You are my doctor today. Let my baby be born in perfect health, by Your grace and mercy.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Favor during trial times
Heavenly Father,
I come before You in my time of need, feeling overwhelmed and lost. Nothing seems to be working, Lord. My work is failing, my health is suffering, and I feel abandoned by those around me. I am struggling with depression and battling negative thoughts. I need Your favor, Father.
Please grant me favor to move out of this dark place, favor to get through these trials, and strength to rise above. Let this moment not define me, but rather, let it make me stronger. I trust in Your love and mercy to carry me through.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Favor is Christ reaching out to pull Peter from the sea when his faith faltered. Favor is Jesus calming the storms so the disciples wouldn’t drown due to their wavering faith. Favor is Christ sacrificing Himself for you and me because we could never pay the debt for our sins.
Pray for favor every day. There’s a construction site you pass on your way to work. There’s a loose piece of metal about to fall onto a car. Favor is God’s decision that it won’t be your car. You may think you’re doing everything right to survive in life, but only God knows what’s surrounding you. Only He knows the dangers and challenges that you can’t see. Only He can protect you from them.
Pray to Him for favor. You will be favored. You will be shielded from disaster. You will experience miracles that are beyond explanation. Others may call it luck, but you will know it as favor.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalms 90:17