Responding to God’s Favor: What Zacharias and Mary Reveal About Living in Divine Fullness!

God’s “favor” is not occasional or random—it’s continuous, abundant, and deeply personal. As believers, we are designed to live overwhelmed by His goodness, not by our challenges. Yet we miss the transformational power of “favor” because we respond from logic, and emotions, and not faithfully trusting in [or knowing] God’s promises.

In Luke 1, we encounter two people—Zacharias and Mary—who received powerful promises from God. Both were visited by the angel Gabriel. Both were offered astonishing “favor”. But only one responded in a way that immediately aligned with heaven.
__________________________________________

Zacharias: When Doubt Delays the Blessing

Zacharias, a devoted priest, had prayed for a child for years. When Gabriel announced that he and his wife Elizabeth would conceive, his reply revealed hesitation:
“How shall I know this? For I am an old man,
and my wife is well advanced in years” (Luke 1:18).

Instead of celebrating the miracle, Zacharias focused on human limitations. Even in the presence of an angel, he allowed disbelief to cloud the moment. As a result, he was rendered mute until the promise was fulfilled. God’s “favor’ still came—but Zacharias missed out on celebrating it.

Too often, we react like Zacharias—measuring God’s promises against our understanding, emotions and circumstances instead of knowing some of His promises and BELIEVING them.

But divine “favor” isn’t activated by facts. It’s activated by faithfully believing God’s “favor” is YOUR [our] birthright.
__________________________________________

Mary: When Surrender Unlocks Favor

In contrast, Mary—a young girl from Nazareth—was greeted by Gabriel with the words, “Rejoice, highly favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). She, too, asked a question:
“How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34)

But her question was rooted in wonder, not unbelief. She didn’t demand proof—she asked for clarity. When Gabriel revealed the miraculous plan, Mary’s response was simple and profound:
“Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

Mary didn’t need to understand everything. She trusted the One who promised. Her surrender became the doorway through which the Savior entered the world.
__________________________________________

“Favor” Requires a Heart Response

Graham Cooke teaches that “favor” isn’t just something God gives—it’s something we’re not trained in and must believe in. Responding to “favor” means shifting from reacting to problems and circumstances, to being shaped by, and believing in, God’s goodness in that He keeps His promises to us.

In Christ, we already carry God’s “favor”. We’ve been placed into Him to share the same access, love, and approval He has with the Father. Our inheritance is "fullness"—the Greek word plēróma—which means complete abundance.

The question is not whether we are favored.
It’s how we’ll respond when that favor arrives.
__________________________________________

“Favor” Looks Like Opportunity, Not Comfort

God’s “favor” rarely shows up in ways we expect. It can challenge routines, stretch our faith, and call us into the unknown. “Favor” isn’t about comfort—it’s about alignment with God’s promises.

Graham shares a powerful story from his corporate days. During a business proposal, God told him to double the pricing figure. Though risky, he obeyed. The client accepted, and it led to more contracts, “favor”, and promotion. Why? Because he responded not to the situation, logic, or past experience, but to what God was saying in that moment.

Sometimes “favor” comes in one big breakthrough. Other times, it unfolds through small steps of obedience. Either way, it builds spiritual capacity and expectation for more as a normal part of our lives.
__________________________________________

Training to Live in Favor

Zacharias shows us that even faithful people can struggle to receive “favor”. It is a choice between mindset vs circumstances and facts.

Mary shows us that humility and trust position us for destiny. And both reveal that how we respond determines how we grow and reflects our quality of life.

God doesn’t just want to bless us. He wants to raise us up into people who can only be challenged by goodness. That means we don’t shrink back when “favor” arrives—we say yes.

“Favor” is not about what is true in the natural. It’s about the truth of who God is for you. And He is the God for whom nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).
__________________________________________

Final Encouragement from JB:
When favor knocks, don’t filter it through fear, emotions or logic. Respond with believing like Mary. Say, “Let it be unto me.” That response could unlock a future bigger than you ever could imagined.

[Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (exceeding abundantly, supremely)]. 

You were born to live in fullness. Let “favor” train you to walk in fullness daily.

The favor of God is not something you chase. It’s something you carry—because of who Christ is in you.

But carrying favor comes with a question: Will you respond with believing that “favor” is truth, or will you reduce “favor” to being circumstance directed?

God has a plan individually designed for you—full of life, purpose, and abundance and He has designed “favor” to provide "YOU" [“Us”] with specific sign post, if we choose to follow.

CLICK: CHOOSE to follow God’s “favor” sign post for YOU!
Check out the "Ambassador Program"!
________________________________________
Summary by— JB Brogdon, July 29, 2025
________________________________________

⏪Prev Video🔥↔️↔️↔️🔥 Next Video⏩
__________________________________________

This article contains affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.