December 4, 2025
Daily Devotional:
“The Year of the Lord's Favor”
Isaiah 61:2
"...to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn..."
The "year of the Lord's favor" is not a single 365-day period; it is the era of salvation and grace ushered in by Christ. It is a time when God is actively extending forgiveness, restoration, and healing to all who will receive it. We live in that "year" right now. This verse then immediately moves to the purpose of this favor: "to comfort all who mourn." This is a beautiful and necessary pairing. God's grace isn't just a theological concept; it is deeply personal and practical. It is the very power that reaches into our times of sorrow, loss, anxiety, and distress to provide a comfort that the world cannot offer.
In proclaiming favor and comfort as the fulfillment of God's favor and mercy, rest in the knowledge that God's favor is not conditional on your performance, but a gift offered through Jesus Christ. He is actively seeking to comfort you and lift your spirit out of heaviness. If you are mourning a loss, Jesus is your Comforter.
If you are mourning a mistake or a sin, He is your Forgiver, proclaiming God's favor over you.
If you are mourning a broken dream, He is your Restorer.
Write down a specific concern or grief that is weighing you down. Then, next to it, write the words: "The Lord's Favor is over this." Every time the burden tries to crush you today, look at that phrase and intentionally choose to rest that burden in God's hands.