walking

Walking in a Fog, by Randall D. Kittle

As I was praying, I began to see a park-like setting with trees and bushes scattered across a field of newly mown grass. Lingering over the grass was a faint band of fog. At the distant end of this park, I saw a man approaching. With every step he took, the park became a little foggier until it began to obscure any detail. Soon, only the man and a few trees and bushes could be discerned. Suddenly, there was a faint glow emanating from the man, as if he’d struck a match to light the way. The glow became brighter and larger so that I could begin to see the things around the man quite clearly. Looking closer, I realized it wasn’t a match or a flashlight illuminating the scene; the man was enveloped in a golden fog that lit the area all about him. The more he walked, the larger this glowing fog became that surrounded him. By the time the vision ended, nearly the entire park was as clearly visible as if it were noon — illuminated only by the golden fog that surrounded this one person.

When I asked the Lord what this glowing, golden fog was, He told me it was the favor of God. He also said that the fog that enveloped the park represents the frustrations, disappointments, and troubling times we all have to walk through by faith in these days. When I questioned how the glowing favor of God had grown, I immediately saw FOG = FOG. This puzzled me until I heard the Lord say, “Faith that Obeys God brings the Favor Of God.”

The Importance of Favor

Through salvation, every believer has received the favor of God. We have all received God’s favor to some degree. But when you start walking out your life in obedience to God’s will, He will drape His favor over you like a mantle and change your life.

Carrying a mantle of favor is essential for all of us if we want to survive these sin-soaked days and be able to declare God’s goodness and display His glory to a world desperately in need of it. Here are some of the many benefits of walking in the favor of the Lord found in the book of Psalms:

• God will encompass us with a shield.
Psalm 5:12 — “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

• We will receive life.
Psalm 30:5 — “… in His favor is life.”

• Our enemies will not triumph over us.
Psalm 41:11 — “By this I know that You favor me, because my enemy does not triumph over me.”

• God will show mercy.
Psalm 119:58 — “I sought Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.”

Favor is a game-changer. It can quickly transform your life, elevating you from being invisible and feeling forgotten to being noticed and in command … like it did with Joseph as he sat in prison. And, it can make this promotion happen overnight. Favor brings you opportunities that are far better than you deserve and will protect you when you make mistakes. Every saint of God should desire and seek to have favor in the eyes of the Lord and to grow in that favor.

How to Increase in God’s Favor

Luke 2:52 tells us that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” But how did Jesus, the perfect, sinless son of God, grow in favor with His Heavenly Father? He couldn’t improve His behavior … He was already sinless! Jesus was never disobedient to the commands of God or the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The secret to increasing in favor with God is this: “Faith that obeys God brings the favor of God.” Jesus grew in the favor of God because of obedience. Jesus’ entire life was one of saying, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Speaking of His Heavenly Father, Jesus said, “I do nothing on my own … I always do what pleases Him” (John 8:28–29). As Jesus lived out His life on this earth submitted to the Father’s will and in perfect obedience, His Heavenly Father was so pleased that He continually bestowed more favor on Him. This favor attracted great crowds, compelled His disciples to follow Him, and allowed Him to walk through crowds and those sent to arrest Him untouched. It even caused those who crucified Jesus to recognize Him as the Messiah.

If we want to grow in God’s favor, we too must submit to His will and obediently walk in His way. We see this clearly shown throughout the book of Proverbs. Who is shown God’s favor according to Proverbs?

• Those who diligently seek good.
Proverbs 11:27 — “He who earnestly seeks good finds favor.”

• Those who are good.
Proverbs 12:2 — “A good man obtains favor from the Lord …”

• Those who are righteous.
Proverbs 14:9 — “Among the upright there is favor.”

The favor of God increases upon those who seek to always do what is right and good — to walk humbly and obediently with God. Psalm 147:11 says, “The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.” Fearing God means to revere and honor Him and to obey all that He says. It also means we give Him His rightful place as the Master of our lives by saying with Jesus, “not my will but Yours be done.” We see this truth throughout the Bible.

Noah responded to God by walking obediently with Him daily in times far worse than those in which we live. Imagine being the only family on earth still obedient to the Word of the Lord! Because of this, great favor rested on Noah, and his family was the only one rescued from the flood. Our heavenly Father always responds positively to those who walk closely with Him, live by His Word, and listen carefully to His Holy Spirit. This means we need to know His Word and obey it, and also spend the time to learn who God is and how to walk pleasing to Him.

Moses, despite his initial protests, chose to obey the divine call upon His life and live life God’s way. The Lord favors followers who choose His preferences over their own … those who pursue a life that is pleasing to Him.

After his conversion, Paul lived with the single-minded focus of serving Jesus at any cost. At all times, he sought to do his best to be a man completely obedient to God’s calling — even if it jeopardized his comfort or safety. Paul was determined to walk in obedience to God’s calling no matter the cost… and it cost him a lot. He faced beatings, whippings, stoning, shipwreck, and more (see 2 Corinthians 11:24–27).

Like these fathers in the faith, you and I can grow in God’s favor if we will faithfully live our lives for the Lord. Charles Stanley puts it this way, “We find favor with our heavenly Father through believing minds, responsive hearts, and obedient spirits.” Let us choose this day to let this increasingly describe our lives.

Please join me in this prayer:

Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask You for more favor. I am not asking for favor because I deserve it. I know that in the natural I don’t deserve it, but You have made me Your child through Jesus Christ. So, Father, I’m asking for favor because I belong to You.

Father, continue to make me more like Jesus, who increased in wisdom and favor with God and man. Please teach me how to carry Your favor well, and help me to always walk worthy of being called Your child. Help my heart choose to obey your commands and seek to fully follow your will, for I long to be pleasing to You in all I do.

Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.