You may have heard the story of Jesus' birth many times, but have you ever really stopped to imagine what it must have been like for Mary? She was just a humble teenage girl living in Nazareth. Nazareth was one of the poorest, most rundown cities of that region, and she didn't have any notoriety to speak of. One day, an angel appeared and said, "Mary, you are highly favored of God. You're going to give birth to a son without knowing a man. He will be the Son of God."
God gave Mary this amazing promise that wasn't even believable in the natural. You can imagine the thoughts of doubt and unbelief that must have bombarded her mind. Thoughts like, "How can I have a baby without a man? That's impossible. That defies the laws of nature." If Mary would have only considered her circumstances, she certainly would have been tempted to give up." But instead of looking at her circumstances, she looked to God. She understood this principle: if God says it, He will bring it to pass.
When Mary answered the angel back, she didn't say, "Oh that sounds too far out. I don't see how that can happen." No, Mary was bold. She made a statement of faith. She said, "Be it unto me even as you have said." In other words, "I'm in agreement. Let it happen. If God says I'm highly favored, I believe it. If God says the impossible is going to happen, I believe it." Friend, that's the way we need to be when God puts a promise in our hearts. Instead of trying to reason it out, we have to be fully convinced that what He said, He will do.
Mary believed but she did have one question. She answered the angel and said, "I believe this promise will come to pass. I'm in agreement, but how is this going to happen?"
You may have a "how" in your life right now. In other words, you may be thinking, "I believe I'm going to accomplish my dreams, but how am I going to do it?" "How am I going to get well?" "How am I going to overcome this addiction?" What the angel said to Mary is true for all of us today. He said, "Mary, here's how it's going to happen: the power of the Most High is going to come upon you and overshadow you." In other words, God is going to breathe in your direction, and supernatural things are going to happen.
How are you going to get well? The power of the Most High is going to come upon you. How are you going to accomplish your dreams? The Most High God, the Great I Am, the Creator of the universe is going to overshadow you. Friend, when God overshadows you, miracles happen. Supernatural opportunities come your way. Family member that were off course will suddenly turn around. Problems that looked permanent will turn out to be only temporary, and you will see miracles come to pass!
Today, just like Mary, dig your heels in and do your part. Get into agreement with God's Word. Receive His promises and obey His commands. It won't be long before His Spirit overshadows you!
"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…'" (Luke 1:35, NIV)