And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word. Luke 1:38

We all have visions of hope. Visions of what we expect our life to be or become. We are surrounded by a culture that encourages us to think and imagine the possibilities, shoot for the stars, plan for success, pursue life’s pleasures, and get all that you can, while you can. So much of what we do and what we desire is based on our own self-reliance, individuality, and independence. We can find ourselves wired to resist all things that are contrary to those visions of success and prosperity. The scripture passage is an example of life prepared in the word of God. A life that is prepared to honor God and glorify Him through obedient service. When Mary encountered the angel Gabriel, with news from heaven that could soon change life as she had envisioned, forever. It was as though she received a draft notice from heaven, and she had a choice. She could flee in fear and stay the course for her own vision or submit by faith and serve the will of God. It would be the word of God that directed the steps (Ps 119:133) of the young maiden. The word of God gave her hope in the coming Messiah. It was the word that her fathers had trusted, the word that taught her the faithfulness of God, it is the word that would now call her to walk by faith to believe and trust God. Her response, “behold the handmaid of the Lord,” demonstrates how the word of God had prepared her heart and mind. Her response and preparedness of mind reveal to us that her life was not her own, but that her visions of hope and expectations were in the hands of the Lord. The angel proclaimed to her “thou hast found favour with God” (Lk 1:30). Mary’s hope in the word of God strengthened her heart to “fear not” (v. 30) but believe by faith “for with God nothing is impossible” (Lk 1:37) and say to the glory of God, “be it unto me according to Thy word.” Dear friend, has the word of God prepared you to receive and respond to God’s call on your life? Even though it is hard to do and counter to the culture we live in, be reminded that letting God direct the paths and the passions of our lives is to know the Father and proclaim, “for He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His Name” (Lk 1:49). Father thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness to the Word of God. Lord, help me to “fear not” when Your Spirit calls, but to “walk by faith” (2 Cor 5:7) that Your will be done “according to Thy word.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.