Faith Like Mary: God Favors You!
"The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be." (Luke 1:28-29)
I cannot imagine a more profound experience than to have a messenger sent straight from God to tell me that God favors me and that He is with me. How amazing to get a verbal confirmation like that: "God likes what you're doing; He's noticed and He's with you."
Of course, it would be terrifying, too. No doubt Mary was "greatly troubled" and "wondered" about angel's greeting. A strange and mighty warrior of light shows up out of the blue obviously excited to tell you something? Yikes!
But that message -- spoken out loud by a supernatural being -- would be worth those moments of sheer terror.
Then I remember: God did the unthinkable and impossible to make sure you and I heard the same message. That baby/man/God Mary would birth nine months later is the evidence, the demonstration that the God of the universe loved me even before I liked Him. And Immanuel Himself turned His name into a promise: "I am with you always."
Think: Do you know that you are highly favored and that the Lord is with you right now? How does knowing that change your perspective? What is it worth to believe that?
Pray: Thank God that the gift of Jesus is evidence that you are highly favored by Him and that He wants to be with you forever.
Do: Think about God's love and desire to be with you next time you tell someone "Merry Christmas."
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Leticia mercado on Dec 15, 2009 said...
hello, i dont know if you remember but in the year 2001-2002 at camp mark you asked if anyone had a prayer request and i raised my hand and i was picked, i asked if you and everybody that was there if they would pray for my family in mexico for they were not belivers and there were no churches there that would preach the word of GOD and two years later my father was send by my church here in oklahoma as a pastor, a church is now build and it has about 20 belivers thank you for your prayers for i know that my father the Lord GOD listened to them that day. Please continue to pray, for the Lords work is never easy.