Have Yourself A “Mary” Christmas
- God has a plan or a dream for every person.
(Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11 GNB) I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.
(Isaiah 55:8-11 NKJV) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. (9) “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (10) “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, (11) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
(Ephesians 3:20 AMP) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–
- God’s plans for us are not automatic. They require a working partnership.
(1 Corinthians 3:9 AMP) For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God…
(2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT) As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
- Faith is required for God’s plan for our lives to come to pass.
(Hebrews 11:6 MSG) It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
Terri Savelle Foy says: “There are two kinds of people: those who let fear run their lives and those that let faith lead them to their dreams.”
(Luke 1:26-37 NLT) In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, (27) to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. (28) Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! [Blessed are you among women.]” (29) Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. (30) “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! (31) You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. (32) He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. (33) And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!” (34) Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” (35) The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God. (36) What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. (37) For nothing is impossible with God. ” (38) Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
- Believe and receive the promise in your heart.
The promise was not conceived when the Word was heard. Conception took place when Mary took ownership of the Word and it became hers.
(Luke 1:39-45 NLT) A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town (40) where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. (41) At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (42) Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. (43) Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? (44) When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. (45) You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.”
This was Elizabeth’s response to Mary.
- Find someone who can agree and believe in the promise with you.
Don’t ever underestimate the power of agreement.
(Matthew 18:19 NKJV) “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
(Luke 1:46-51 NLT) Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. (47) How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! (48) For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. (49) For the Mighty One is holy, and He has done great things for me. (50) He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. (51) His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
- Praise and thank God as though you already have the promise and it is yours now.
(Luke 2:4-7 NLT) And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. (5) He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. (6) And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. (7) She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
- Be patient and allow God to bring the promise to pass when the right time or the best time has arrived.
God knows the exact time that the manifestation needs to show up for the things that you are believing Him to receive.
(Galatians 4:4 NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
(Hebrews 6:12 NKJV) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(Hebrews 6:12 MSG) Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
You cannot always look at the circumstances of your life to determine the right time to receive the promise. There will never be a “perfect” time in the natural.
If you do these things, then God has declared that the promise is yours and you can enter into that good life that He has already planned for you.