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And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Luke 1: 38

In the story of Jesus’ birth, we are introduced to Mary, a young teenage girl betrothed to a young man named Joseph. Officially considered husband and wife, they would not live together nor have an intimate relationship until they were married. Mary would spend the following year in her parents’ home learning how to be a good Jewish wife and mother, while she waited for Joseph to build a home for them. She had a plan for her life.

Then God sent an angel to tell Mary that she would become pregnant with God’s Son. And in an instant, all of her plans changed.

What was Mary’s response?

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Mary gave herself fully to the Lord for His purpose relinquishing her plans for His without hesitation, negotiation or contingency.

And as if that wasn’t enough, upon the confirmation by her cousin Elizabeth, she then broke out in personal worship of God. We’ll take a look at that response next month.

Like Mary, I had plans too.

My husband and I would retire in ten years, buy a motor home, and travel the country. All those plans were shattered when a doctor gave my husband a cancer diagnosis and fifteen months later, at the age of fifty-five, I was a widow living a life I didn’t plan.

Unlike Mary, I did not accept God’s plan immediately.

I didn’t like His plan one iota!

I spent many nights crying out to the Lord in my sorrow. In those dark hours, He never failed to meet me there. Although I had been through many other trials in which God had proven Himself faithful, this brought us to a new level of intimacy and trust that our relationship hadn’t experienced before.

My cries of resistance eventually became prayers of surrender.

Because, like Mary, I want to be a willing servant and follow where He leads me.

It has taken time but I believe He is starting to unveil His plans for me. I don’t have the whole picture yet, but I’m not sure Mary did either.

Did she know that her son would have to die to save her and her people? Maybe not, but she knew God and trusted Him.

God had a different plan for Mary, a plan to bring the Light of the world to us. And, like Mary, He has a plan for us as well!

Can we respond like Mary?

Are we willing to surrender our plans to God and follow Him in a new direction?

I pray we can all say, like Mary, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Lord, grant us a heart that seeks after You and willingly surrenders our plans for Yours. Forgive us when we doubt that You care for us and grow impatient waiting for You to reveal that plan. Draw us to Your Word and to Your heart in prayer while we wait and, like Mary, may our souls magnify You and rejoice in You, our Savior! Amen