Have you ever considered how Mary had a heart that honors God?
Merry Christmas week, my friends.
This week’s blog post will be brief. I know, for those even posting blogs this week, we all have things we are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
A short devotion:
I love this verse. Mary accepted God’s plan for her in faith, not questioning. She humbled herself calling herself the maidservant of the Lord. This young woman saw herself as a servant to her heavenly Father. She chose to yield her plans to His. She had plans to marry a good man in her small town. Maybe have children someday. And live a quiet life as a wife and a mom, devoted to God.
But God . . .
God saw beyond Mary’s expectations and straight to her heart. He knew her heart was devoted to Him and that she was the perfect woman to bear His Son . . . chosen before she ever drew a breath of earthly air. His plans for her were much bigger than her own.
Having a Heart that Honors God—God saw beyond Mary's expectations and straight to her heart #Christmas #nativity #humility Click To TweetWhen Mary heard the angel’s words:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).”
Mary probably grasped some of the heartaches that would come with her yes. Rejection by her town. A tarnished reputation. Names muttered behind her back. But she still accepted God’s plan for her. Mary’s heart was humble before her Father. She possessed a heart that honors God, and He honored her obedience.
As we near Christmas Day, let’s seek to have humble hearts before Jesus, hearts that honor God. May we each see God’s fingerprints in our days and choose to trust Him, no matter what He allows into our lives.
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Tell His Story will take a blogging break until January 4th, 2022 (I can’t believe I even wrote that!!). Lisa Jordan will host on January 4th, and I will be back here on January 11th. After that, we will return to our normal schedule.
Have a beautiful, special Christmas, everyone. Please, PLEASE know what a gift you are to me!
See you next year!
Dear Jeanne, I hope that Christmas was lovely for you and that this respite from writing has done your soul good! Thank you for opening your doors and your heart to us this year, even through the rough patches and challenging days.
May you be encouraged and refreshed as we walk into 2022 together. Bless you, friend …
Linda, thank you. Our Christmas was nice and filled with good memories. The blogging break was needful and good, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with everyone in this new year. 🙂 I hope your Christmas held many sweet memories and that your new year is off to a good start.
I hope you are having a happy and healthy holiday with your loved ones, Jeanne. Ours has turned out a bit differently than planned, but it’s still been restful and relaxing. Looking forward to catching up with you in 2022, my friend.
Happy New Year, Lois! We did have a nice Christmas break. I’m glad yours was restful and relaxing, though different than expected. 🙂
Amen, Jeanne! I hope you and your family have a Christ-filled Christmas!
Thank you, Kathy! May your Christmas hold much joy and many glimpses of God’s love for you and yours!
I often think about how my life did not go as planned – but really, whose life does? Mary is a great example for us, to accept even when it looks difficult.
Merry Christmas, Jeanne! Thank you, and LIsa, for hosting Tell His Story.
Jerralea, my life didn’t go as I planned either. But, looking back, God’s given me a much better life than I ever could have imagined for myself. That in itself is reason enough to continue to trust him. May your Christmas be beautiful and filled with love!
Amen! May we all have humble hearts before Jesus. Hearts seeking Him. Hearts bowed low in worship. Hearts that bring Him honor in all we say and do. Merry Christmas, Jeanne!
Joanne, yes, may we have hearts that are humbled and bowed low in worship. I hope your Christmas is wonderful!
Some friends say they could not face
what I live with every hour,
but as for me, I count it grace
granted by a Higher Power
that forms and folds my here and now
with love, intent and care,
and then with patience shows me how
to be awake, aware
to loveliness within the pain,
to beauty in the worst of days
that shines like sun-shafts through the rain;
how can I then but praise
the God who knows each sparrow’s fall,
and rush with joy unto His call?
Dear Andrew, I can only imagine that there must be times when holding onto this perspective is difficult. But, your determination to live this out for God’s glory, your words and your continuing encouragement are such an inspiration! Thank you for the reminder that, when we are called to hard things, we never have to go into them alone. Our Father is always with us, giving us what we need in each moment.
I’m continuing to pray for you and Barb, my friend.
Oh — and I wish you and Lisa wonderful Christmases with your loved ones!
I am convicted by how Mary so readily yielded everything to God, even though this calling disrupted and changed her life as well as blessed it. It’s a poignant reminder that our lives are not our own, and the highest blessing may not be having my plans turn out like I wanted.
I’m convicted too, Barbara! I would have had a ton of questions, and probably been more like Zacharias. Sigh. May we give the Lord the gift of yielded hearts this season and throughout 2022. I hope your Christmas holds wonderful, special memories, and many glimpses of God’s love for you and yours!
Amen! May we all have a heart to intentionally purpose His truth and obey it. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Blessed New Year, Jeanne!
Yes, Nia. May we be intentional about obeying our Father’s truth. I hope your Christmas and New Year’s hold much joy!