What is meant by the favor of God? How can I get the favor of God?

TL;DR:

The definition of the word favor is best described as "demonstrated delight." To have the Lord's favor means that the Lord is in accord with an individual and has shown gracious kindness towards them.

what does the bible say?

The favor of God is the tangible evidence of God’s delight and approval in a person’s life. In the Old Testament, God’s favor was given to those who humbled themselves, sought wisdom, and loved Him sincerely (Psalm 5:12; Proverbs 8:35; Isaiah 66:2). The New Testament shows that favor is fully realized through Christ, as all who trust in Him become God’s children (John 1:12). As if salvation was not enough favor, we can pursue God’s favor by seeking righteousness, surrendering to Him, and desiring to please Him above all else ( Matthew 6:33; Mark 12:30). While God’s favor does not remove trials or suffering, it provides us with spiritual peace, assurance of His presence, and the confidence that we are within His plan (Psalm 86:11; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 4:7). Living in God’s favor transforms our hearts and equips us for challenges (Philippians 4:13). We must train ourselves to see God’s grace and presence, knowing that His favor sustains us no matter what we face.

from the old testament

The life of someone who has God’s favor will show tangible evidence of God's approval. As the psalmist wrote, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).
The Lord invites us to seek His favor, and the Bible is filled with people who cry out for God's favor and graciousness (2 Kings 13:4; Jeremiah 26:19; Zephaniah 2:3).
David says in Psalm 119:58, "I entreat your favor with all of my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise."
Pursuing God’s favor begins by humbling our hearts before Him (2 Kings 22:19).
Through Isaiah, God tells us who He favors:"… These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."
We can also gain God's favor by seeking wisdom. Proverbs 8:35 says that the one who finds wisdom, "finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
We must also honor the Lord's favor above anybody else's, even our own.The Lord favors those who love Him, so He can protect them, connect with them, and guide them (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 3:5–6).

from the new testament

Seeking God’s favor begins with surrendering to Him and loving Him with our whole selves (Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27).
Christ died for us and all who put their trust in Him receive His favor. Once we are God's children, we can continue pursuing God's favor by seeking Him for who He is, not for what He can provide for us. By Jesus' righteousness we receive forgiveness of sin and become children of God (John 1:12–13; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; Hebrews 4:14–16).
In telling His disciples not to be anxious about their material needs, Jesus said, “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). God favors those who earnestly seek to do His will.
In seeking God’s favor, we must desire to please Him more than we desire to please ourselves. The writer of Hebrews uses Moses as an example of one who found God’s favor because he chose “to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25).

implications for today

In old movies, the bad guy wore black and the good guy wore white. Hollywood knew what people wanted, so the good guy would always defeat the bad guy by the end of the movie, and the good guy lived happily ever after (usually with the sought-after woman by his side).

Some people may think that once we align ourselves with our good God, we’ll also live happily ever after. And that’s right—but maybe not this side of eternity. In fact, Jesus pretty much guaranteed His followers that this life wouldn’t be easy (Matthew 16:24; John 16:33). Those who have favor with the Lord still suffer, and those who have seemingly perfect lives do not always have God's favor (Jeremiah 12:1; Psalm 37:7; 73:1–28). Gaining God's favor does not mean freedom from hardships of this world (John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 6:4; Acts 14:22; 20:23; 1 Peter 2:19). Many people God favored in the Bible who still had difficulties. We find hope in the stories of Noah(Genesis 6:8), Moses (Exodus 32:7–14; 33:13), Daniel (Daniel 10:19), and Mary (Luke 1:28), because they were highly favored by God, yet overcame enormous obstacles and hardships. In fact, to call them merely hardships is to undermine how monumental their difficulties really were.

From their stories, we learn that God never leaves those He favors. His favor can be felt in the spirit. With the favor of the Lord, we have peace in our spirits that our sins are forgiven (Romans 4:7). We can also feel a confidence that no matter what happens to us in this world, that we are within the plan of God (Psalm 86:11), and that He is with us always (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20). As we continue to walk in favor with God, He equips us in our struggles (Psalm 34:15). Our devotion and trust in Him will be rewarded (Matthew 10:42; Revelation 2:10), and our eyes are illuminated to blessings in our situations that were previously unseen.

understand

God’s ultimate favor was given when Jesus died and rose again, making salvation possible for all who trust in Him.
We seek God’s favor by humbling ourselves, pursuing righteousness, and desiring to please Him above all else.
God’s favor doesn’t remove trials but gives peace, guidance, and confidence in His presence.

reflect

Where do you see God inviting you to humble yourself so you can better seek His favor?
How are you reminding yourself of God’s favor given at salvation while also actively seeking His favor?
When you’ve faced hardship, how do you remind yourself of what God’s favor means?

engage

How does Scripture shape our understanding of God’s favor?
What does it look like practically speaking to seek God’s favor?
In what ways does God’s favor call us to pursue holiness even when it costs us comfort, convenience, or approval?