Below is a great, FRESH WORD through Michelle Passey.
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Hey, here is a quick message from Kathie Walters for this end-of-the-year GIVING TIME.
These are crucial days for us to raise money to fund this ministry into 2019.
Thanks so MUCH for your generosity.
As we are in the Christmas season, I hear the Lord so clearly encouraging us through the Christmas story, the birth of Jesus. I specifically hear God for us in this season through Mary's story.
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!'...'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High...'
"...And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:26-28; 30-32; 38 ESV)
Saying "Yes" to His Call
Mary must have known how big this assignment was that had just been given to her when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. Mary answered this call with great humility. She had to have known that this would ruin her reputation and her relationships with her family and friends. She had to have suspected that she would be shunned and could even be killed for being pregnant and unwed. Yet she still said yes! I love her response to Gabriel: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Photo via Pixabay)
Saying "yes" to the call of God in our lives can be at times met with extreme opposition. Have you found yourself in a place where you have said yes to God and then almost immediately faced challenges that left you wondering if you heard God correctly? Questions begin to arise like, "Did I miss it? Is this really You, God?" There were so many challenges Mary had to face and overcome so that she could give birth to the promise, the Messiah, the One who would take away the sins of the earth.
Birthing the Promise
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2:4-7 ESV)
Mary had no choice but to give birth to Jesus in a manger. No one made room for her. She was forced to give birth without the aid of others. I imagine she had to clean herself up after giving birth on her own, and I imagine she had very little to do this with. I'm sure with Joseph it was an awkward situation considering they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. I'm sure she was also overwhelmed with everything she had been through.
Even after all this, the Bible tells us that Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. She did not lose heart. She didn't give up, even when it appeared she was left to do the hardest thing she would have to do—giving birth for the first time without the aid of her mother or maidservants. She may have felt alone but I believe she knew she really wasn't alone at all.
"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19 ESV)
There are times when we will have to face challenges that no one else, not even our spouse, our parents, or our closest friends will be able to help us with. Of course they will be able to pray for us, encouraging us along the way, but there comes a point when we realize we are going to have to get through this one with only the aid of the Holy Spirit. These times can feel extremely lonely and we can be overcome by the intensity of the task we must face. We can find ourselves questioning if we heard the Lord correctly, hearing the voice of double mindedness, as it is trying to bring confusion and despair.
Choosing Peace in the Midst of the Storm
But as we choose peace in the midst of the storm, we will be able to see the promises of God being fulfilled all along the way, shutting down the lies of double mindedness, confusion and despair. As you fix your eyes on the One who fulfills His promises, not only will you be able to look back at all God has done, you will be able to treasure these things deeply in your heart. You'll see all the beauty of this miracle He is about to perform for you and through you. You will begin to see all of the prophetic words that have been spoken over you years ago come to pass before your eyes!
You see, Mary was just as much a part of the miracle-birth as the birth itself. She was a needed participant. Without her, the miracle-birth of our Lord and Savior would have not taken place. What seemed to be the hardest thing you've ever had to face now becomes the biggest miracle you have ever seen God perform. God is looking for your yes so that He can fulfill all He has spoken concerning you. Your yes will not only have an impact on your life but on the lives of those around you. Your yes is needed for the promises to be fulfilled. Your miracle is just one yes away!
In this new season may our hearts' posture be one like Mary's: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Michelle Passey
The Edge Foursquare Church
Email: passeymichelle@yahoo.com
Website: www.edgefoursquare.com
Michelle Passey is currently the associate pastor at the Edge Foursquare Church, and she is the founder and leader of the Regional Prophetic Training that is held at the Edge Foursquare Church in Washington State. Michelle has a call on her life to bring healing and awakening to the prophetic voices in her region. She is called to equip and release the prophetic voice and to restore healing between the pastor and the prophet relationship. Michelle has 15 years of experience in healing and deliverance and has a passion to see inner healing and freedom for those inside and outside of the Church.
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