Accepting God's Word

Luke 1:28 "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

God speaks of that which will be as though it has already come to pass. The people to whom God has spoken form a list which stretches through history and the Scripture: Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Deborah, Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah...the list goes on, stretching to the present time to include each of us. Just as they did, we sometimes struggle to realize that it is us He is speaking of when we receive His Word.

Luke 1:34 "How will this be?"

Each of us marvel in our hearts at what God is planting in our spirits. Whether it is a dream, a vision, a word, a revelation or understanding of what God wants to do with us and through our lives, or simply a desire to see a victory in the life of someone dear to us. It is what would bring us the greatest joy to see happen, but we cannot imagine how it would come to pass.

Luke 1:35 "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you"

This is how God performs His work in each of our lives. The invisible power of God works in our lives and our hearts in ways we cannot understand to cause changes in us which result in the very thing we felt was beyond our reach.

Luke 1:38 "I am the Lord’s servant...May your word to me be fulfilled."

Our response can be accepting or argumentative. Zechariah, although high priest, and while in the Holy of Holies ministering to God for all of Israel, struggled with doubt and voiced his disbelief. He was not allowed to speak again until months later when he was willing to convey his agreement to the word spoken to him by the angel. Others simply voiced their acceptance of what God proclaimed and left the doing of it in God's hands.

1 Peter 1
v.8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
v.9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 119:
v.18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.
v.32 I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free.

Loving, gracious, and majestic God, You see far more than we can understand. You speak of what You know and give us encouragement and hope for the future through Your promises. We pray for willing and accepting hearts to receive Your Word and let it take root and grow into a fruit-filled plant that You can take pleasure in. Help us to be attuned to Your voice and willing to give all that You ask of us. Let Your will be done in our lives, Lord. We are Yours, an offering freely given from our love for You.

3K22F58I