Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a humble teenage girl living in Nazareth. It 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. You are to name him Jesus."
God gave Mary this amazing promise that was barely believable. You can imagine the thoughts of doubt and unbelief that must have bombarded her mind. Thoughts like, "You're not going to have a baby without a man. That's impossible. That defies the laws of nature. That's never happened before." If Mary would have only considered her circumstances, she would have certainly been tempted to give up." But instead of looking at her circumstances, she looked to God Almighty. She understood this principle: if God says it, He will bring it to pass.
When Mary answered the angel, she didn't say, "Oh, that sounds 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 I'm highly favored. If God says the impossible is going to happen, I believe the impossible is going to happen."
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 God has 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, Joel, 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 what I believe God is saying to each one of us. 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 enters the scene, miracles happen. Supernatural opportunities come your way. Family members that were off course will suddenly turn around. Problems that looked permanent will turn out to only be temporary.
Today, just like Mary, dig in your heels 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 and brings life and miracles into your circumstances!
Victoria and I want you to know that we love you very much. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray that your time with family and friends is blessed by His grace and filled with His joy and peace.
Joel and Victoria Osteen
God gave Mary this amazing promise that was barely believable. You can imagine the thoughts of doubt and unbelief that must have bombarded her mind. Thoughts like, "You're not going to have a baby without a man. That's impossible. That defies the laws of nature. That's never happened before." If Mary would have only considered her circumstances, she would have certainly been tempted to give up." But instead of looking at her circumstances, she looked to God Almighty. She understood this principle: if God says it, He will bring it to pass.
When Mary answered the angel, she didn't say, "Oh, that sounds 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 I'm highly favored. If God says the impossible is going to happen, I believe the impossible is going to happen."
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 God has 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, Joel, 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 what I believe God is saying to each one of us. 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 enters the scene, miracles happen. Supernatural opportunities come your way. Family members that were off course will suddenly turn around. Problems that looked permanent will turn out to only be temporary.
Today, just like Mary, dig in your heels 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 and brings life and miracles into your circumstances!
Victoria and I want you to know that we love you very much. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray that your time with family and friends is blessed by His grace and filled with His joy and peace.
Joel and Victoria Osteen