What steps can we take to "go and entreat the favor of the LORD"? Setting the Scene: A Call to Seek the LORD Zechariah 8:21: “The residents of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’” God issues a direct, literal invitation: rise up, come before Him, and ask for His favor. The passage lays out a pattern every believer can follow today. Step One: Respond Immediately—“Let us go at once” • Don’t postpone obedience. • Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” • Faith acts quickly because delay dulls conviction. Step Two: Seek Him Together—Community Matters • “Residents of one city” invite “another.” • Hebrews 10:24-25—meet together and spur one another on. • Corporate pursuit magnifies faith and accountability. Step Three: Approach in Humility and Prayer—“Plead before the LORD” • 2 Chronicles 7:14—humble, pray, turn. • James 4:8-10—draw near, cleanse hands, humble yourselves. Practical helps: – Set aside unrushed time. – Confess specific sins aloud. – Acknowledge God’s absolute right to rule. Step Four: Pursue Clean Hands and a Pure Heart • Psalm 24:3-4—only the pure ascend His hill. • Repentance is not a ritual; it is a turning from what grieves Him. • Ask the Spirit to spotlight attitudes, words, habits that must go. Step Five: Bring Acceptable Offerings • Romans 12:1—offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. • Malachi 1:9 warns that careless offerings block favor. Offerings that please Him today: – Obedient lifestyle choices. – Generous stewardship. – Praise that flows from thankful hearts (Hebrews 13:15-16). Step Six: Engage Scripture, Prayer, and Worship Consistently • Jeremiah 29:13—seek Him with all your heart. • Psalm 119:105—His Word lights the path. Daily practice: – Read, meditate, and obey a specific passage. – Pray Scripture back to God. – Sing or speak praise, aligning emotions with truth. Step Seven: Persist in Expectant Faith • Hebrews 11:6—without faith it is impossible to please Him. • Luke 18:1—always pray and never give up. • Confidence rests in His unchanging promises, not in visible circumstances. Step Eight: Live Out the Favor You Receive • Zechariah 8:23 pictures nations drawn to those who carry God’s presence. • Matthew 5:16—let your light shine so others glorify the Father. Evidence of His favor: – Peace that overrides chaos (Philippians 4:6-7). – Fruit of the Spirit in relationships (Galatians 5:22-23). – Open doors for witness (Colossians 4:3-4). Putting It All Together Move quickly, gather fellow believers, humble yourselves, cleanse your lives, bring wholehearted offerings, stay saturated in Word-centered prayer and worship, persevere in faith, and then walk out the blessings He grants. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). |
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