Base Text: Job 8:5-7 (NLT)
'But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, if you are pure and live with integrity, without a doubt he will arise and restore happiness to your home. Even though you started with little, you will end up with a lot.'
Introduction
I asked the AI to find 10 resolutions that people make at the start of the year:
- Exercise regularly and lose weight
- Eat healthier
- Stop smoking or drinking alcohol
- Live more peacefully
- Save money and get out of debt
- Start investing
- Learn something new (language, instrument)
- Read more books
I asked for 20 more and none of these have to do with God. Few or almost no one says: 'my main goal this year will be to seek more God's favor'. People are frustrated because their purpose is pure humanism, but no spirituality.
The Bible shows us the way to success, to victory. The rest is added. Do you know what happens to a person who decides to seek God's favor?
1. If You Pray and Seek God's Favor
a. This should generate enthusiasm and purpose. It is one hundred percent certain that whoever decides to seek God will do well.
- There are people who have been there for years and do not see the change, because seeking God is not just about attending. A spiritual development plan is needed.
- Who wants happiness at home? -Who wants to do well in business?
b. God has always wanted to be first in everything.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT) — 'Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.'
What is devotion?
- Deep love, enthusiasm
- A non-mandatory practice
- Inclination towards something sacred
- Give voluntarily to the Lord, without conditions
2 Timothy 1:6 — 'This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you.'
Devotion takes God out of the optional and makes him a priority. It is not 'if I have the time I will seek God', but I decide to do it.
There are Christians who do not even do a devotional, do not read a chapter of the Bible, nor are they capable of praying for more than a minute. How can you expect God to be in your plans? But when something happens to them, they promise to be the guardians of the temple. Pure falsehood.
2. With God You Will Be Happy
a. The fashionable illness is depression. People immerse themselves in pleasure, walks, parties because that tries to fill them, but they are not happy.
- Unhappy homes, unhappy marriages, unhappy children
- They do not have the Sun that illuminates life, and it is not the natural one: God is the light that drives away the darkness
Do you know that darkness does not exist? Darkness is the absence of light. God did not create evil; evil is absence of God.
Psalms 34:4 — 'I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.'
📖 Anecdote: I heard a Pastor say that on December 31 he gathered his children and told them: 'This year, starting tomorrow, there will be no television if you have not done your devotional with God, there will be no cell phone if you have not done your devotional, there will be no field or games if you have not done your devotional.' The children opened their eyes wide, because this makes them uncomfortable. No one likes to be told that they should seek God.
Job 8:5 — 'But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty...'
Awkward question: When you look at your cell phone and the app that says how much time you spent, how much does it give you? Some up to 3 hours or more, and you didn't have 10 or 15 minutes for the Almighty and you still want to do well?
1 John 5:21 (NLT) — 'Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.'
🧠 Neurotheology: Science Confirms Prayer
Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania, has studied the effects of prayer and meditation on the brain. In a study with 12 elderly people with memory problems who practiced 12 minutes of meditation and prayer daily for 8 weeks, the results showed:
- Significant improvements in verbal memory and executive functions
- 10-15% increases in cerebral blood flow
- Reduction of stress and anxiety
- Strengthening empathy
This is scientific evidence from Romans 12:2: 'Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.'
3. He Who Walks in Integrity
'If you are pure and live with integrity...'
a. You cannot say that you seek God and do not do what is right. He who lives doing what displeases God is in condemnation.
- The integrity filter is needed, without it it does not work
- It's like the dishwasher: if you put all the garbage in it, it will clog the pipe.
Job 36:5-12 (NLT) — 'God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding... If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant. But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death.'
4. The Result is Prosperity
a. If we do this, even if the enemy rises, God will fight for you. He will bless you. Make a purpose with God.
- ✅ Start doing a daily devotional: Read, meditate, pray
- ✅ Let's not do anything without praying
Joshua 1:8-9 — 'Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'
Conclusion
'Though you began with little, you will end with much' (Job 8:7). This is the result of seeking God's favor: prosperity, happiness at home, and victory in every area of your life.
What will be your #1 resolution this year?
💡 Keep learning: To continue growing in your faith, explore our [Deep Bible Studies] section with more thematic teachings.