TITLE: HOW WILLING ARE YOU TO GIVE UP YOUR PLANS FOR GOD’S PLANS FOR YOU

TITLE: HOW WILLING ARE YOU TO GIVE UP YOUR PLANS FOR GOD’S PLANS FOR YOU

SCRIPTURE:

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 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 the Son of God. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”  38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”  (Luke 1:26—38 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            Mary had the greatest surprise of all.  God chose Mary to be the mother of his dear son.  We know only two things about Mary.  She was a virgin from Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and she was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  She was planning her wedding, but God changed her plans and her future.  Sometimes, we do not know why God would do things we are unprepared for. 

            This day, the angel Gabriel’s visit changed Mary’s plan and set her on a path to fulfill God’s plan for her life. I questioned myself: How willing am I to submit my plans to God and allow him to change them? Mary’s life plan was thrown into confusion. Today, I learned valuable principles and truths about God’s plans and choices.

• In his divine wisdom, God calls and appoints us for the tasks he has meticulously planned. His calling is a mark of honor and reverence, a testament to his trust in our abilities to fulfill his purpose. 
• God’s calling on our lives is a manifestation of his boundless mercy and favor, not a judgment based on our qualifications.  The Angel Gabriel’s message to Mary, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you,’ is a testament to God’s grace and love. 
• God’s calling always has a spelled-out purpose.  “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  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, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 
• When God calls a person to do something, He also assures them that they will not be alone in their assignment.  “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.

God never calls anyone to do his work without promising his presence with them. He promised Mary what would happen, with the Holy Spirit giving direction in the process. The Holy Spirit will come on her, and the power of the Most High will overshadow her, so the result is not that of men but of God. 

Mary’s response reveals her willingness to trust God with her plans to get married and receive God’s plans for her season. Mary responded to God’s calling, saying, “For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  What a powerful response! No word of God will ever fail.  I am the Lord’s servant.  And may your word to me be fulfilled. 

APPLICATION:

            I want this attitude daily when God seeks to change my plans. Today, I learned how Mary’s fears of uncertainty turned into trusting God for his plans. Like Mary, I want to say that no word of God will ever fail in my life. I am his servant. May all the words of God be fulfilled in me. 

PRAYER:

            Heavenly Father, I thank you for reminding me of what it is to surrender my plans to you and your timing but to take up what you are planning for my season.  Please help me to be like Mary in her trust and obedience to you.  Teach me to relinquish my rights to a future that I want and to the future you plan.  I need you Father daily in my life.  Amen!