I was thinking about Mary from the bible today and what it must have been like for her when the angel appeared and said she was going to give birth to the Saviour of the world.
What always amazes me, however, is Mary's response to the angel.
"The angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father, David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I [c]do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God, nothing will be impossible."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:26-38)
After meeting an angel and being told she was going to have a baby even though a virgin, Mary's response wasn't to freak out, run away, doubt or refuse to believe what she had just witnessed and been told. Instead, Mary responded, "Let it be to me according to your word and what you have spoken to me".
Mary did not display any signs of unbelief, stubbornness, hardness of heart or refusal to accept God's assignment for her life. She chose rather to believe, speak in agreement with God and protect the promise and word entrusted to her.
Mary's cousin Elizabeth had also become pregnant with a child in her latter years, but in contrast, Zechariah had responded with astonishment and disbelief. As a result Zechariah suddenly became speechless and remained like that until after his baby was born. God didn't want his words to contradict what He was doing, and rather than allow him to speak words of unbelief; he made it impossible for him to comment. (Luke 1:5-20)
How often do we negate and even shut down what God is trying to get to us because we reject or don't move on the word God has spoken. We believe something is possible but then allow unbelief to creep in and our own feelings of inadequacy and fear, rather than believing what and who God says we are. Which is that we are overcomers, blessed, have a purpose and are not alone.
Today I encourage you to learn from Mary and protect the promise, potential and purpose God has placed in and on your life. Choose as she did to respond in the affirmative when God speaks and to say, "Let it be to me according to your word."
"Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it." (Jeremiah 1:12)
Prayer; Lord, thank you for always having a plan and purpose; things happen when you speak. Please help me to receive your word and to believe and run with it today. In Jesus name Amen
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