READ:
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 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 the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lordʼs servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. ~Luke 1:34-38 (NLT)
CONSIDER:
“I am the Lord’s servant.” With these five words, Mary turned her heart to God. She died to self so she could live for God’s plan. She willingly sacrificed her will and submitted to God’s perfect will for her life. When God interrupted her life, she responded with immediate obedience, while the angel was still with her. How do we respond when God interrupts our lives? Do we ask question after question? Do we make excuses as to why we can’t do as He asks? Do we even ignore His interruption or refuse to recognize His hand at work? I’m afraid too often “my will” wins over God’s will in my life. “My will” is selfish, thinking only about how situations affect me. “My will” wants what I think is best for me. But submitting to God’s will conforms our hearts and our desires to God’s heart and His desires. As God’s Holy Spirit transforms our hearts and minds we look at situations differently. We begin to trust God’s perspective on things rather than our own and within that trust, we find the desire to obey. And that is what God really desires from us~our obedience. I am reminded of what Jesus teaches us in Luke:Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” Luke 9:23-25 (NLT)We can try our best to hang onto the life we have and ignore the life God is calling us to. Yet in doing so we lose the better life of freedom that God is offering us. But when we give up our lives and accept God’s calling, that’s when amazing things start to happen! It might not look like the life we thought we wanted, but a life of adventure with God if beyond comparison! Mary said “yes” to God and in return held the Savior of the world in her arms, watched Him grow into a bold man of God, die on a cross, and then rise again to free you and me. What a grand adventure! I want to live a life of adventure with my God. I want to respond like Mary when God interrupts my life:
I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.Let’s lay down “my will” and submit to God’s perfect will. Like the Psalmist let’s declare:
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me! Psalm 119:5-8 (NLT)
BREATHE:
Breathe in His love…exhale all your struggles… God’s love for you never fails. His perspective on your life is perfect. Trust Him and submit to His perfect will today.PRAY:
Lord, please don’t give up on me even though it seems I fail so often. Transform my heart and mind through the power of Your Holy Spirit today. Change my perspective~conform my will to Yours. I submit fully to You. “I am the Lord’s servant.” I want to live a life of great adventure with you! Help me to say “yes” whenever you interrupt my life!
Michele is married to the love of her life, Jeff. She has 3 grown children and 1 very sweet grandson! Most days you can find Michele laughing with good friends, writing, or working with women. In the evenings she enjoys spending time in a few creative outlets like creative lettering, drawing, painting, and pottery. She loves snuggling with her dog, Tebow, and reading. But one of her favorite passions is playing with her grandson and laughing at his bright smile! You can find her most weekends worshiping at our Real Life Clermont campus.