NoPlanB-01 What if Mary had said, “No” to God when he asked her to have his Son? After all, many have said, “No” to God perhaps out of fear, or not wanting to risk, or sacrifice anything. Did He have a plan “B”? Was there an understudy waiting in the wings for her big chance?

I heard a story of a man who grew up very different from the rest of his family. You see, they all went to the same church, but the others, in his family, resisted when God tried to change them from the inside out. They evidently, just wanted enough of Jesus to escape hell. He wondered, and so did those who heard his story of the way his family treated him and others, how, or why he didn’t turn out like them. His father passed away, and as he was walking through the now empty house, he felt God’s Spirit whisper to him, “While you were growing up in this house, I kept my hand tight around your heart, because I knew one day, you would give it to me.”

“So God, who knows the heart,…”
Acts 15:8 (NKJV)

God knew He didn’t need a plan “B”, because He knew Mary would agree to his will. God knew Mary’s heart belonged to him, so Christmas went off without a hitch, and the rest of God’s plan did as well. What, or who have you given your heart to?

20181123_232007 I was playing cards the other night with some friends. One lady kept getting great hands. I said, “You are blessed, and highly favored!” We all laughed, but then the very next round she got another great hand. I said it again. After realizing that she was doing great, I quit saying it about her and begin professing it for myself. I started getting good hands.

Yes, I know, it was a card game, but I sensed truth was again revealed to me. We have power in the words we say. Blessings and curses can come from the same source, our mouths. Being blessed and highly favored is more than mere words. It’s a way of life. It’s being with the Lord and the Lord being with you. It’s desiring him more and his will for your life above all other things. That’s how Mary, the mother of Jesus lived.

“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (Luk 1:28 KJV+)

Are you blessed, and highly favored? I hope so.