Cultivating Favor: Why Going Vertical With God Comes Before Success

Want more favor in relationships, finances, careers, or your calling? Here’s the hard truth: favor doesn’t come without faithfulness. You can’t cultivate lasting abundance by watering the surface of your life—you’ve got to go vertical.

Think of your life like a garden. You could arrange the most beautiful plants in perfect rows, water them daily, and admire the blooms. But if the soil underneath is rocky and empty, nothing will truly grow. That’s what happens when we chase horizontal success—like recognition, wealth, or admiration—without cultivating a vertical root in God first.

Jesus calls this out in John 6:27:

“Stop chasing food that spoils. Instead, seek the one who gives eternal life.”

Translation: don’t keep chasing temporary wins. Start seeking the Source of all favor. You can’t expect promotion, purpose, or intimacy if you haven't shown up in your prayer life, your trust, or your obedience.

When you make God your priority, everything else begins to align. Matthew 6:33 makes it clear:

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.”

That’s not just a catchy quote—it’s a promise backed by a formula: vertical leads to horizontal blessing.

What does that look like in real life?

• Praying consistently instead of only during crises
• Trusting God before fretting about outcomes
• Serving others in small ways before seeking big visibility
• Obeying commitments when no one is watching

Favor isn’t earned through performance—it flows from faithfulness. You might be seen as spiritual “stuck” or overlooked—especially when you feel overlooked or bored in your career or relationships. That could be a sign you're rooted in shallow ground.

So what do you do now?

1. Dig deeper in your vertical life: Start each morning with prayer, Bible reflection, or a moment of gratitude. Even five minutes matter.
2. Write one faithfulness goal per week: Maybe it's consistency in prayer, generosity, or intentional rest. Plant that seed.
3. Watch God align everything else: Slowly, you’ll notice doors opening, clarity coming, relationships deepening. Favor follows faithfulness.

If you're new and don’t know how to start, Bible 101 is a perfect launchpad to help you build your vertical foundation. For those ready to dream big, “Elevate” helps you align your calling and your character. Both are available at launchyourrocket.com.

You weren’t made to live for meh—you were made for meaning, mission, and favor. Dig deep, stay faithful, and watch your favor grow—vertically, before everything else.