Morning by Morning, December 9 - "Greetings, Favored One!"
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in my Savior, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end'" (Luke 1:26-33).
My Father God, You favored Mary to be the mother of Jesus. You conceived the earthly life of the Son of God in her womb. And there will never be another woman throughout all eternity who will ever be favored by God in that way again. She alone bears that honor.
But just as You sent Gabriel to speak to Mary's heart, You send Your Holy Spirit to speak to each of ours -- "Greetings, favored one!" As the children of God we are each favored by God. Through the coming of our Savior who now lives in our hearts, "God has looked favorably on His people" (Luke 7:16).
We will not give birth to Jesus the Messiah, but each of us are greeted by God as Your favored ones to give birth to all You have conceived within us. "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). And "like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, (we are to) serve one another with whatever gift each of (us) has received ... so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:10-11).
Come, Holy Spirit. Give me grace to give birth to all You have conceived in me that God may be gloried through my life each day. Just like Mary, remind me each day I'm also a favored one of God, destined to find favor in Your sight by Your grace, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
May you know you are a favored one of God, created and called to live your life for His glory by the power of His grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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