“Highly favored.” Two words that sound beautiful until you understand what they actually cost Mary—unwed pregnancy in a culture that stoned adulteresses, whispered accusations following her everywhere, watching soldiers drive nails through her son’s hands. Divine favor didn’t shield her from scandal; it plunged her directly into it.
Have you ever wondered what it truly means when Scripture speaks of being “highly favored” by God? Perhaps you’re struggling to feel favored when life feels difficult, or you’re seeking to understand how God’s favor operates in everyday life.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible goes far deeper than circumstantial blessings or feeling good about yourself. It speaks to God’s gracious disposition toward you, His delight in your existence, and His purposeful intervention in your life.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible shows us that favor doesn’t mean exemption from hardship—rather, it means God sees you, chooses you, empowers you, and accomplishes His purposes through you despite your inadequacy.
The Biblical Foundation of Being Highly Favored
Luke 1:28-30 (NIV)
“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.’”
This passage introduces the most famous use of “highly favored” in Scripture.
The Greek word kecharitomene means “one who has been graced” or “endued with grace.”
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible starts here—it’s about receiving God’s gracious disposition, not earning His approval through merit.
Genesis 6:8 (ESV)
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
Noah found favor during humanity’s most wicked generation.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible includes being chosen by God for preservation and purpose when everyone else faces judgment.
Noah’s favor resulted in salvation for his entire family and the continuation of humanity—favor extends beyond individuals to impact generations.
Exodus 33:17 (NKJV)
“So the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.’”
God knew Moses by name—intimate, personal knowledge accompanied divine favor.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible involves being personally known by God, not just generically loved.
This favor gave Moses confidence to make bold requests, knowing God’s gracious disposition toward him.
Esther 2:17 (NLT)
“And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.”
Esther obtained favor that positioned her for saving her people.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible often involves strategic positioning for kingdom purposes beyond personal blessing.
Her favor wasn’t for comfort but for crisis intervention.
Proverbs 3:3-4 (CSB)
“Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.”
Loyalty and faithfulness attract favor.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible connects to character qualities God values—not performance metrics but heart conditions reflecting His nature.
Favor comes to those who mirror God’s faithfulness.
Psalm 5:12 (NASB)
“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”
God’s favor surrounds the righteous like a shield—protective, encompassing, defensive.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible includes divine protection that shields you from attacks, dangers, and schemes intended for your harm.
Proverbs 8:35 (KJV)
“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.”
Finding wisdom brings God’s favor.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible connects to pursuing godly wisdom—those who seek understanding and apply divine principles position themselves for receiving increased favor.
Acts 7:46 (NRSV)
“But it was David who found favor before God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.”
David’s favor enabled him to desire and prepare for building God’s house.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible involves having your desires aligned with God’s purposes—favor creates holy ambitions for advancing God’s kingdom.
Proverbs 12:2 (MSG)
“Good people bask in the delight of GOD, and he celebrates evildoers with judgment.”
Good people bask in God’s delight—they experience His pleasure and approval.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible means living in the sunshine of divine approval, knowing God celebrates your existence and obedience.
Genesis 39:21 (AMP)
“But the LORD was with Joseph, and extended lovingkindness to him and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison.”
Joseph had favor even in prison—favor isn’t circumstance-dependent but God’s presence-dependent.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible shows that favor operates in dungeons and palaces alike when God is with you.
Characteristics of Being Highly Favored
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible reveals several consistent characteristics throughout Scripture.
First, favor is unmerited—it’s grace, not wages. Mary, Noah, and Moses didn’t earn their favor through superior righteousness but received it through God’s sovereign choice.
This distinguishes biblical favor from worldly favoritism based on performance or status.
Second, favor brings responsibility, not just blessing. Every person who found favor received assignments requiring sacrifice, courage, and perseverance.
Mary faced social scandal, Noah endured mockery while building, Moses confronted Pharaoh repeatedly, and Esther risked death approaching the king uninvited.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible always connects to kingdom purposes beyond personal comfort.
Third, favor includes divine presence. God told Moses, “I know you by name,” and the angel told Mary, “The Lord is with you.”
Favor isn’t distant blessing but intimate companionship. God walks with the favored through their assignments, providing strength, wisdom, and supernatural empowerment.
Fourth, favor opens doors human effort cannot. Esther gained the king’s attention supernaturally, Joseph rose from prisoner to prime minister overnight.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible involves divine intervention creating opportunities that wouldn’t exist through human networking or striving.
Fifth, favor produces fruit benefiting others, not just the favored individual. Noah’s favor saved his family, Joseph’s favor saved nations from famine.
Biblical favor is others-focused, accomplishing God’s redemptive purposes through willing vessels.
How to Position Yourself for God’s Favor
While favor is ultimately God’s sovereign gift, Scripture reveals principles that position believers for increased favor.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible shows that certain heart postures and life choices attract divine favor consistently.
Humility attracts favor. James 4:6 declares, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Mary responded to Gabriel with humble submission—”I am the Lord’s servant.” Humility acknowledges dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency.
Faithfulness in small things precedes favor in greater things. Joseph was faithful as a slave and prisoner before receiving favor as prime minister.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible includes proving trustworthy in obscurity before receiving visibility.
Seeking God’s face rather than His hand positions you for favor. David was a man after God’s heart, not just His blessings.
When you pursue relationship over rewards, favor flows naturally from intimacy.
Walking in integrity and righteousness attracts favor. Proverbs repeatedly connects favor with righteous living.
This isn’t legalistic performance but authentic transformation producing godly character.
Demonstrating love and faithfulness toward others increases favor. Proverbs 3:3-4 promises favor to those marked by loyalty and faithfulness.
Treating others with God’s character—mercy, kindness, faithfulness—positions you for experiencing His favor.
Common Misconceptions About Biblical Favor
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible is often misunderstood in contemporary teaching.
Some view favor as guaranteed material prosperity, exemption from hardship, or evidence of spiritual superiority. Scripture contradicts these misconceptions clearly.
Favor doesn’t equal comfortable circumstances. Joseph had favor while enslaved and imprisoned.
Mary had favor while facing scandal, poverty, and her son’s execution.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible includes God’s presence and purpose operating through difficulties, not their absence.
Favor doesn’t mean you’re better than others. Noah found favor “in the eyes of the Lord,” not because he was superior to others.
Favor is God’s sovereign choice displaying His grace, not human achievement earning divine preference.
Favor doesn’t eliminate opposition. Highly favored people throughout Scripture faced intense opposition—Pharaoh resisted Moses, Haman plotted against Esther.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible involves supernatural empowerment to overcome opposition, not avoiding it entirely.
Favor isn’t manipulated through formulas. Some teachings reduce favor to transactional formulas—give enough, confess enough, believe enough.
Biblical favor is relational, rooted in God’s sovereign grace and intimate relationship, not mechanical cause-and-effect.
Living as One Who Is Highly Favored
Understanding being highly favored meaning in the Bible should transform daily life practically.
First, live with confidence in God’s disposition toward you. You’re not begging an unwilling God for crumbs but receiving from a Father who delights in you.
Second, embrace assignments that seem impossible. If God’s favor rests on you, He’ll provide everything needed for what He’s called you to accomplish.
Mary’s “impossible” pregnancy, Noah’s ridiculous ark, and Joseph’s unbelievable promotion all became reality through God’s empowering favor.
Third, extend favor to others generously. Those who’ve received unmerited favor should freely give it.
Show kindness to those who can’t repay, extend mercy to those who don’t deserve it—this mirrors God’s favor toward you.
Fourth, maintain humble gratitude rather than entitled presumption. Favor is grace, not wages.
You didn’t earn it and can’t demand it. Receive it with thankfulness and steward it with responsibility.
Fifth, recognize favor’s ultimate purpose—glorifying God and advancing His kingdom.
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible is never ultimately about you but about displaying God’s grace and drawing others toward Him.
Our Thoughts on Being Highly Favored in the Bible
Being highly favored meaning in the Bible centers on receiving God’s gracious disposition, intimate presence, and purposeful empowerment for kingdom assignments.
It’s not earned through performance but received through humble surrender and faithful obedience.
Favor doesn’t guarantee comfortable circumstances but promises divine presence through difficulties.
Every highly favored person in Scripture faced significant challenges—their favor didn’t exempt them from hardship but empowered them through it.
Understanding this transforms expectations from demanding easy lives to embracing purposeful ones.
God’s favor positions you strategically for accomplishing His redemptive purposes through your willing availability.
It opens doors human effort cannot, provides supernatural wisdom for impossible situations, and produces fruit benefiting others beyond yourself.
Being highly favored isn’t about feeling special or superior but about being chosen as a vessel displaying God’s grace.
When you grasp this, you stop seeking favor for selfish gain and start stewarding it for kingdom impact—the very purpose for which God extends His favor generously.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your favor toward me—unearned, undeserved, but freely given through Your grace.
Help me understand what being highly favored truly means in Your Word—not exemption from hardship but Your presence through it, not personal comfort but kingdom purpose.
I receive Your favor with humble gratitude, not entitled presumption. Position me strategically for accomplishing Your purposes in this generation.
Open doors that only Your favor can unlock and give me wisdom for navigating opportunities beyond my natural ability.
Make me faithful in hidden seasons, knowing that You test character in obscurity before granting public favor.
Keep me humble, recognizing that favor is Your sovereign gift displaying Your grace, not my achievement proving my superiority.
Help me extend favor generously to others, mirroring the unmerited grace You’ve shown me. Use my life to glorify Your name and advance Your kingdom.
May Your favor surround me like a shield, protecting me from attacks intended for my harm.
I surrender to Your purposes, saying like Mary, “I am Your servant—may it be to me according to Your word.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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