"Unexpected Favor is Looking for You"
By Steve Backlund
“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Every testimony we hear of what God has done prophetically speaks to us and releases a supernatural grace for it to be done again in those who hear it. As we are able to discern the different aspects of the testimonies we hear, we will receive an even broader scope of prophecies for us.
The best testimonies come from Bible stories. They are packed full of prophetic words for us.
Consider the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21. We can receive these “words” for our life from this passage:
Children around us will be used significantly in miracles
The little we give God will meet seemingly impossible needs
There is always a solution for us for big needs
God will multiply food and other resources in my life
When we start seeing the “spirit of prophecy” in Scripture, we will not only get revelation for our lives but also strengthen our teaching and preaching ministry (as we will become more prophetic and life-giving in what we say).
One exciting thing about this is the discovery of how different Bible stories will speak the same prophetic word to us. This is what I want to highlight in this blog - specifically the prophetic word: UNEXPECTED FAVOR IS LOOKING FOR YOU.
Consider these people who had unexpected favor come to them:
He was overlooked and underappreciated - David did not know favor was looking for him in 1 Samuel 16. He was not considered likely to become king, but he was unexpectedly commissioned by the Prophet Samuel.
He was an outcast in society - The demoniac in the tombs (Mark 5) seemed like the last person for favor to be looking for, but it was. He unexpectedly went from being a crazy man to a powerful influencer.
He was forgotten and falsely accused - It seemed like Joseph’s dream would die in prison but favor was looking for him after Pharaoh had his own dream (Genesis 41).
She was an impoverished widow - Ruth did not know favor was looking for her after she had lost her husband, left her country, and was trying to survive by gathering leftover wheat. She suddenly went from working in the field to owning it. (See the book of Ruth.)
He was a leader who had failed and ran because of fear - Moses probably thought he had missed his opportunity to fulfill his calling but favor was looking for him on the backside of the desert (Exodus 3).
There are many other biblical stories that prophesy to us that unexpected favor is looking for us (Gideon, Nineveh in the book of Jonah, the people who got healed by Peter’s shadow in Acts 5, etc. ). Why don’t you say this right now: Unexpected favor is looking for me and finding me.
In closing, let me give you some keys that increase the likelihood of unexpected favor consistently coming to you:
Declare regularly “Like Jesus, I am continually increasing in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Delight in the Lord in the season you are in (Psalm 37:4).
Strengthen your faithfulness and integrity in your current assignments (Luke 16:10-12).