What Did Mary Do?...

Mary was a virgin girl engaged to Joseph when an angel appeared to her. He brought a life-changing message to her; the Holy Ghost would overshadow her and she would carry the seed of God, and bring forth Christ to the world. Its wonderful news when you look at it from one end, and then from the other end it’s a challenge. Conceiving a child out of wedlock in an age where twerking wasn’t what made you an acceptable lady… there were consequences that spanned beyond gossip and suspending you from the choir.

No one would believe her story, that she was a virgin with child and she risked being stoned to death, especially if her fiancé denied responsibility. Adultery was punishable by death in the Mosaic Law. Talk about risks. It was a time of difficulty, and probably judgment and scorn.

I was reading Luke 1 again and Mary’s reaction to this news was awe-inspiring. I mean she certainly knows more than I do what the potential consequence could be for her, especially if God who gave this unusual gift didn’t show up for her. Her response to this? Mary sang a song of praise; she worshiped God right in the midst of her uncertainty in regards to the judgment of the society and the reaction of her fiancé Joseph. She was focused on the end result, the promise and not the hurdles she would have to cross to get there. It wasn’t a spontaneous praise in the heat of the moment when the angel was there… this was after she must have reflected on everything… the good and the bad and what lay ahead for her on the path of birthing a savior to the world. It must have scared her. But she chose to worship.

Mary’s song of worship popularly referred to as the magnificent in the message translation…

I’m bursting with God-news;

I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave

on those who are in awe before him.

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;

the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel;

he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

It’s exactly what he promised,

beginning with Abraham and right up to now. Luke 1:46-56

How many of us can rise above our fears and the odds against us and worship God for what He’s doing? To move beyond whining at the obstacles you face and praise and worship Him in the midst of all you face on your way to the promise? Don't beat yourself down if you've been whining, this is just a wake up call to worship.

Most times carrying Christ and Christ inspired dreams to your generation isn’t so easy. There’s so much planted within us… dreams that are bigger than us and all it takes to kill our obedience to God to step out in the impossible is the reaction of people, these people could be anyone from our family to best friends, mentors and even strangers.

There’s a backlash, there’s lack of support, not everyone sees your God given vision as you do, because well, it’s something that’s unconventional, so not everyone would rise to support it, in fact opposition and discouragement would come. Sometimes it would be a time of difficulty, and labor when you’re running with a vision, a whisper only you can see and hear.

How hard has it been achieving your God given dream? How hard has it been carrying the seed placed within you that’s getting ready to be birthed to the world? The roadblocks, rejected proposals, financial restraints, lack of moral support, and the sacrifices of things you have to give up on to make room for this dream? It’s not been easy but you’re still standing, right? That does prove that the power that gave you that vision is the same that’ll keep you through. Learn from Mary, learn that it’s not the time to whine, take a cue from Mary and praise in the midst of it. Worship in the heat of the moment, trust the one who overshadowed you and planted the seed in you. It’s your own way of birthing Christ to your generation. Be in in business, ministry… your passion/talent… anyway.

Remember the words spoken to Mary and rise up to tell yourself always, Hail (Joy), thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women (the people of the world). Luke 1:28

The Lord is with you, and He favors you, and He has blessed you amongst the people of the earth, how can you fail? When the trials come, how can they overwhelm you? When you walk through the fire, how can it consume you? When the flood comes, how can you drown? The Lord is with you, do not be afraid, Mary (Joy), for you have found grace (free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God. Luke 1:30(AMP)

It’s time to worship…