There is just something about Mary. You know her, the Virgin Mary, earthly mother of Yeshua. I was watching the “Bible” series, the episode when the Angel came to Mary stating that she would be pregnant and give birth to the Savior of the World. It was the part right when she was reacting to the angel’s words.  She was shocked because she knew the earthly way to have a child was with a man, a husband. I can only but imagine what was going on her mind, me? Pregnant? I have never been with any man and Joseph and I aren’t even married yet so yeah, her questions and concern were genuine.   Clearly, Mary knew how babies were made so she had every right to ask. Once the angel explained to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would give birth to the Son of God she said yes, “let it be done to me according to what you have said.”

Astounding right, let me tell you why this has me captured (and like you I have read this story many times over). I selahed (pause an calmly think about it) on this for a moment, Mary engaged to the man she loves, gets a visit from an angel, she wasn’t even perplexed about him appearing, it’s what he said that left her with questions. Then without doubting gave her Yes, after the angel’s convincing of course. He told her several things to help her make her mind up:

• Don’t be afraid
• You have found favor with God
• You will be empowered by Holy Spirit to complete the task
• For with God nothing shall is ever impossible

Now keep in mind she said yes, but on the other end of that yes was the possibility of losing her love and risking the shame of being pregnant out of wedlock. She was willing to risk everything for what the Angel of God spoke. Now when Joseph found out she was pregnant, he was upset and come on who wouldn’t be, your love is pregnant and you are “not the father”? But Daddy God would have it so that the Angel was sent to him and he said Yes as well.

The thing about yes is that once we resolve our own concerns we become excited and joyous to be chosen by God for a calling, purpose, assignment, etc. But after the yes, often times trials come, people that knew you suddenly flip the script on you and you are judged on a whole different level. This leaves one feeling abandoned, dejected, forced into the wilderness, all like Mary and Joseph were. However, they didn’t turn their backs on the yes because God grace was sufficient, His favor enabled them, empowered them through it all.

Many times we pull back on that yes right in the midst of the strenuous process because “we just can’t take it anymore”. However, just Like Mary there comes a special grace to empower that yes.  We will know that God has equipped us with everything we could ever need to be successful and commit wholeheartedly to that yes.

We have so many examples of the reward of committing to our God-ordained yes, Abraham, King David, Job, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Moses, Noah and of course—Jesus (just to name a few). All went through the process of paying the cost for the Yes. If I may ask, what is it that you have said Yes to God but backed out after the warm and fuzzy feeling wore off and the trials came? Is God asking you for a Yes today? If so in what?

There will be good days and not so good days, but remember Mary and Joseph they held on to what the Angel spoke. And that enabled them to stayed faithful, focused, and committed. Hold on to what God has spoken to and over you. Look at the Yes’s that are waiting in the wind– from your walk with God to your marriage, to your finances, to your business etc. That YES to commit fully to whatever you promised God is beckoning, how will we respond?

“Luke 1:26-38 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

26 Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin [a]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.”34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” 35 Then the angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.36 And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” 38 Then Mary said, “[b]Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.”

www.biblegateway.com