"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 favor with God.'"
Luke 1:29-30 (NKJV)
If you've been a Christian for any number of years, you've probably heard this passage a few times in the pews around Christmas time. And you've probably heard a number of sermons about the blessing that fell upon Mary, the teenaged girl who said 'yes' to God and His plan to redeem the world.
But this week, I want to challenge you to look at this verse again.
While we don't get to witness the birth of humanity's Savior every day, we do have opportunities every day to say 'yes' to God. To say 'yes' to His will for our lives.
We read this in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I don't know about you, but even when I'm trying my best to follow God's will for my life. . . I get it wrong sometimes. But you and I—as believers—can have peace in knowing that we're never so far off the track that He can't get us back on it!
This week, please join me in praying:
For the the Lord's peace to settle on expectant mothers and fathers, that they would not worry for a future with their children, and they would find peace and security in the knowledge that God holds their futures and accept the Prince of Peace's lordship over their situations.
For ourselves, that we would be instruments of peace to our family, friends, and neighbors, including those who may be struggling with unexpected—or unexpectedly complicated—pregnancies.