When I think of Mary, the mother of Jesus (as this season compels me to
do), I am amazed at her response to the angel’s astounding news. Not only by her
trust in God and His outrageous plan to make her, a virgin, mother of the
Messiah. But even more than that, in her ability to receive the affirmation and
blessing God was giving her. The angel called her “highly favored” when he
bestowed upon her the singular honor of becoming mother of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Promised One. Unlike Moses (Exodus 3:11, 4:13) or Gideon (Judges
6:13, 15) or me (!), she didn’t discount Him and say, “You’ve got the
wrong number. I’m not qualified. I don’t have that skill set or the experience
You’re looking for.” Instead, she received God’s affirmation with both humility
and confidence and praised Him, saying:
My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his
servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for
the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name. (Luke
1:46-49)
I want to be like Mary—a person who hears what God says about her, receives
it, and is transformed by it. One who believes He loves and delights in and
favors her. Who confidently accepts what He says about her as true and doesn’t
argue, bargain, deny, or come unglued when He invites her to partner with Him to
accomplish impossible-sounding things.
So here’s my plan. During Advent (which begins November 29 this year), I
intend to unwrap one of God’s gifts for me each day and ask Him to help me to
intentionally receive it and believe and live differently because of it. I don’t
know what specific gift the Holy Spirit will invite me to unwrap each day, but
there are myriad possibilities, life-changing gifts such as:
• His promises: presence, hope, redemption, restoration, help, comfort, to
know His voice, wisdom, forgiveness
• His deliverance: from fear, condemnation, despair, defeat,
confusion
• His victory: over temptation, besetting sins, spiritual attacks,
doubt
• His Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, and so on
• His Spirit’s gifts and empowerment for ministry
• His call into new areas of partnership with Him
What about you? Would you consider joining me in this gift unwrapping
project? To deeply experience and be transformed by Your Father’s good gifts?
This Christmas season, why not ask God what He has for you, then listen with
Your heart for His answer. Talk to Him about how you can genuinely
receive—heart, mind, and soul—those good things. Be like Mary. Rejoice that He
has noticed you, blessed you, and done great things for you. Believe Him and be
transformed by His kindness and love. I’d love to hear how it goes. Email me at
pray@navpress.com.