"During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Grace to you, young woman, for the Lord is with you and so you are anointed with great favor.' Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, 'Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on his ancestor David’s throne. He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit.' Mary said, 'But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!' Gabriel answered, 'The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your aged aunt, Elizabeth, has also become pregnant with a son. The ‘barren one’ is now in her sixth month. Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!' Then Mary responded, saying, 'This is amazing! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.' And the angel left her."
Luke 1:26-38 (TPT)
What a message! Do not yield to your fear! The promise from the angel of God far exceeded Mary’s every expectation, but her response in this time of her life determined how she was going to live the rest of her life as a mother. Mary could have scoffed at what the angel was telling her, but she was a godly woman who knew the Messiah was coming. Astonishingly, her relative Elizabeth was also expecting a child in her old age. This is an encouragement for women to connect with other women of God, women of faith who understand that in this climate we are living in, we need to hold fast to Jesus.
"Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37) Mary responds with…"'This is amazing! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.'” (Luke 1:38) She did not falter, she switched on her faith, received the word of the Lord that nothing is impossible with God. So, mums, it is time to reset faith and flip the switch! Mary said, "I accept whatever the Lord has for me!" This prepared her for a whole stream of miracles. Mary’s response was “I am here”, “I will do what you tell me”, and she trusted God and through her marriage with Joseph, through the birth of Jesus and the persecution of Herod, God protected her.
Hold on to God's promise in Isaiah 54:10 (TPT)
"'Even if the mountains were to crumble and the hills disappear, my heart of steadfast, faithful love will never leave you, and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken,' says Yahweh, whose love and compassion will never give up on you."
It’s interesting that the Hebrew word for “compassion” (racham) means “to love deeply, like a mother’s love.” Racham is also a homonym for “womb,” with an implication that God’s love is like the love of a mother carrying a child in her womb. There are some of us who may have lost hope or let go of the promises of God. Never give up! Keep your prayers before the throne of God, and do not let the enemy steal that promise out of your heart. With God, nothing is impossible!
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
- What are some of the promises of God that you hold fast to?
- What are some of the practical ways in which you can continue to “switch on” your faith?
- What is the next step you feel you need to make to your life to make it more faith-filled?
- How can you reach out to others to help build their faith?
