ADVENT DEVOTION:
We have been talking as a family this past week about the importance of the Holy Spirit, the POWER OF THE MOST HIGH. A very key component in the conception and birth of Jesus.
How is this same Power active in our lives?
Is this component part of your life?
NO DREAM IS ACHIEVABLE APART FROM THE MOST HIGH!
15 years ago I sat in the balcony of a church for the first time because I had a deep, dark hurt and a reality bigger then me that kept me saying,
"How can this be?"
My marriage was struggling and my parents where freshly divorced after 27 years of marriage.
I felt lost, hurt and hopeless.
My parents both figuring out their paths in life and my husband left to go down his self centered path.
I remember so vividly that day when I anxiously made my way through the doors of a big white church. I sat pregnant at 34 weeks crying while asking God, "How could this be?
My reality was so Big, I could not even wrap my mind around any good possibilities that could come out of this. I was troubled, confused and scared. Scared that I would be delivering my second baby with no man at my side.
This morning as sat reflecting over our past weeks advent devotions. This particular devotion stoof out and could change your life!
I would love for you to travel with me to LUKE 1:26-35.
Please take a moment to read and wrap your heart around what was happening in that moment to Mary.
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God.
This story pointed my family to a very important truth for this Christmas. I want to share with all my family and friends in hope it blesses you and then encourages you to be a "GABRIEL" angel in someones life this season.
Mary heard the news from the angel that she was Highly favored and blessed among women.
However,
She was troubled from the start with the angels greeting. The angel Gabriel continued saying to Mary... "Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus!
Mary troubled and confused with this BIG reality exclaimed..
"HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE I HAVE NOT BEEN WITH A MAN?"
The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow The angel then answered her with something so POWERFUL that I would love for you to grasp this Christmas.
KEY PROMISE:
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you."
MARY'S RESPONSE:
Mary took her eyes off the reality and placed her life with Trust in God. She just knew with Gabriel's encouragement that God was getting ready to BIRTH A POSSIBILITY IN HER REALITY!
Mary also did not try to ESCAPE her reality. She stood firm and let nothing move her. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
She allowed God to work through her reality to bring true JOY to the world.
Did you ever consider that your trouble will birth a possibility in an other's life? God will use you as He overshadows you and comforts you.
God cares about your "HOW CAN THIS BE?"
Allow Him to Birth a miracle!
I know the moment I asked God to Come into my heart, He began to show me the path of life and in His presence I found FULLNESS OF JOY (Psalm 16:11)
Do not allow your reality to steal the joy from your life. God can overshadow your "How can this be?"
The loss of a loved one
A broken marriage
Sickness
Loss of home
Loss of a job
Financial struggles
Ministry problems
Lost dreams
Sinful consequences
All these realities... the MOST HIGH can take over.
He brought HOPE and DESTINY back to my marriage!
My friend, I want to be your Gabriel today and encourage you with these words...
"Do not be afraid, for with God nothing will be impossible."
You my friend are HIGHLY FAVORED!
SHEDDING SOME LIGHT...
Have you ever been asked to do something that didn't make sense?
Have you ever been asked to believe something unbelievable?
This takes a great amount of truth and faith.
In today's devo we see that God tells Mary she will do something that won't make sense and will have to believe the unbelievable.
Mary trusts His word and power. She allows God to shaper her life according to His plan.
What part of the Christmas season NOW brings you hope and joy?
