The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,  to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, Isaiah 61:1-2 NIV

A few days ago, I watched episode 3 of season 3 of The Chosen series entitled Physician, Heal Thyself. In this episode, Jesus visits His hometown of Nazareth and quotes this above passage from Isaiah. One of the Rabbis asks Jesus why He stopped quoting at “the year of the Lord’s favor” instead of continuing on to the day of vengeance. Jesus responds “the day of vengeance is in the future, but the year of the Lord’s favor, is now.” 

Jesus was claiming fulfillment of the coming Messiah was present and He is the Messiah. If you have not been following this series, I encourage you to download the Angel Studios or The Chosen App. It is free to watch, you will be asked to give toward future productions.

Since that episode, I have been meditating and claiming 2023 as “The Year of the Lord’s favor”. I like favor and blessing. Monday’s Blogs have been entitled Monday Mantra -the Blessing of…”. 

The “Year of Favor” is more than good things happening to you all year long.  It is more than making lots of money or buying new things. It is even more than no troubles or trials coming your way. It’s so subtle and marvelous at the same time.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor includes…

  • 24/7 Access to the God of the universe.
    • When Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden, access to God was blocked or extremely limited. God was in heaven and mankind felt separated and far from Him. God existed behind the veil of our view.
    • When Jesus arrived, He became Emmanuel – God With Us. 
    • After He ascended into heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to His followers – God dwelling within us.
    • Jesus was God, standing before the people of Nazareth, declaring that the access to God was now open once again.
    • Because of the year of the Lord’s Favor – everyone can approach the throne of grace with boldness. Because of Jesus, the veil to God has been removed.
  • Forgiveness of Sin
    • Sin has marred the human race since Adam and Eve violated God’s principles. From the one man, Adam, sin entered the entire human race. Nothing can remove the blemishes for anyone – except the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus on our behalf.
    • Jesus knew that the power and the presence of sin would be overcome by His death on the cross, the burial and His resurrection. 
    • The year of the Lord’s favor includes the canceling of sin’s control over our lives. Our past sins are washed away and our future sins are accommodated as paid for in advance. Complete and total forgiveness has been granted to His followers.
    • WOW – JESUS HAS FORGIVEN AND CANCELED OUR SIN FOR ETERNITY. This is the game changer for our everyday encounter with others. Jesus alone has the power to forgive sin.
  • Access to the rule, reign and culture of the Kingdom of Heaven is available here on earth.
    • King Jesus brought His kingdom authority and power with Him. All authority in Heaven and earth are His, and He sends us forth under that authority.
    • Love for God first and foremost in our lives and loving others as more important than love for ourselves is the standard for conducting all affairs on earth.
    • Righteousness (always living rightly from God’s perspective), peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are the Kingdom’s values available to Jesus’ followers.
    • Jesus’ followers are His ambassadors to share with others the reality of the benefits and expectations of God’s hope, promises and authority over mankind.

Isaiah said that Jesus would be the prince of peace, and of the increase of His government, there shall be no end. This year, 2023, is included in the increasing year of the Lord’s favor, over your life and on the earth. 

Let Jesus help you shake off the shackles of sin which cause you to stumble so easily. Through Jesus, you can live moment by moment in the promises of God regarding your life. He has opened wide the flood gates of His love toward you. May you receive from His love, breath, and anointing today. It is daily the year of the Lord’s favor toward you.

Blessings Love y’all