Highly Favored of God

1 Nephi 1:1         What does it mean to be favored of God?

Nephi says he has been highly favored of God. Does it mean he is more special to God? Does God love him more? How many of us can say we feel favored?

1Nephi 17:35 says, “He who is righteous is favored of God.” So God doesn’t favor someone more highly because He loves them more. He blesses those who obey Him. The Brother of Jared was also “highly favored” of God.

So if we want to be highly favored of God, we need to draw near to Him and obey His will. I believe I have been highly favored because I have been richly blessed in my life. I have a wonderful, faithful husband; wonderful children who bring me MUCH joy, a happy, fulfilling life, and now the great blessing to be in Chile again serving here.

I’m thinking favored means blessed. I think Nephi is saying the Lord had given him many favors, or blessings. He isn’t saying he is a favorite person, but that he has been greatly blessed by God. I like the idea of thinking of God’s blessings of favors and when we receive them, we are favored.  I need to work harder to obey God’s will and submit to His guidance. As I do I know I will be more favored; I’ll receive more blessings and feel His love more.