Favor

This past Sunday night I was watching a sermon by Jerry Flowers Jr. entitled "She Comes With Favor"; part of the Cuffing Season series 🌚. Being that I hadn't caught up with the first couple of episodes, I knew I was about to be in for a ride. Cuffing Season series? I mean come on. As I watched on, he spoke about Esther and the favor on her life. Let me give you my ratchet version of Esther's story. Please read the book of Esther in the Bible.

Esther was a cool, calm, and collected young lady who happened to be an orphan, who was raised by her older cousin Mordecai. What had happened was, King Ahasuerus was looking for a new queen, because Queen Vashti had disobeyed him I guess that has to do with being submissive and she wasn't for it. The King was basically like "Lord I can't lead this woman, find me someone who will give me the reigns to lead her". Mordecai knew what was going on and told Esther to go to the palace to be a candidate for queen. Now out of ALL the women that were summoned, Esther was favored by the king. The funny part is that Esther was a Jew and they were not favored by the king and his people. Imagine me pulling up to a crowd of people who love me until they find out I'm Jamaican 🤔. And that major detail about me is impossible to hide! The point is, Esther was given seven maids, SEVEN! and also given the best suite for her and her maidservants. Now, prior to all this, Esther was probably minding her business, even living her best life the best way she knew how. Did she know she would've been favored by the king and crowned queen? No. But she was obedient. God used Esther as a sacrifice to save the Jews in Israel from genocide.

Now, aside from the concept of marriage, and your husband finding you because after all, "He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord" [Proverbs 18:22], favor is granted unto those who are obedient. Jerry said something that hit me in the face like lightning: "disobedience causes delays, favor requires obedience". Esther could've told Mordecai that she wasn't interested in becoming queen, or better yet, spilled the beans when he told her not to reveal her ethnicity to the king, being disobedient. As I was reading Esther 2: 8-9, I realized that Esther showed up for her assignment 'unprepared' meaning she was cute and all but she wasn't 'queen tings'; she was obedient and moved without questioning if she was ready for the position. It wasn't until she was in front of the king that she was put into position, where she was basically given a beauty makeover and was trained on the proper principles for her new role.

Again, God used Esther to deliver the Jews. Sis, we all have favor on our lives but we doubt our worth and cower in the eyes of others. You won't always feel prepared for the doors that you need to knock on but best believe that your seat is ready and waiting for you. Have you ever had a vision, like Raven, and feel like you're daydreaming so it won't ever happen? Call me crazy, but sometimes those inklings are actually clues of where God is taking you. Don't be envious of the woman who is in a higher position than you; learn from her examples because that may be your ticket to your elevation.

These are some of the main takeaways that I got from the message and hopefully, it grants your some revelations:

1. favor is directly proportional to obedience

2. favor will cause others to be negative about your growth

3. THE FAVOR THAT IS ON YOUR LIFE, IS FOR ANOTHER'S BENEFIT!