Thursday, December 25, 2014

"Mary" Christmas: Special DFB Edition

We wish you a “Merry Christmas” is a phrase that is uttered throughout the holiday season, but I’d like to express a different kind of greeting. 

I wish you a “Mary Christmas.” 
What do I mean by that?
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace (favor) and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11 KJV)

Welcome to this Special Christmas Edition of Daily Favor. 

You are welcome to leave comments or prayer requests below.  All are private. I would love to hear from you and how Daily Favor has worked in your life.  Contact me by leaving a message in the box at the bottom of this week’s post.  

 
The Mary Miracle

What exactly am I suggesting with a message of "Mary" Christmas? 

Why, I'm asking God to give you the Mary Miracle.  
No, not the virgin birth, but the miracles of favor bestowed on her as a child of the Living God.
 
For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29 KJV) 
When we look at the first Christmas to the last, where do we find Mary?  Her journey with the Lord Jesus was manifested when God showed favor upon His servant.
 
It continued at the manger in delivery, then at the foot of the cross and finally waiting in the Upper Room.  Wherever Mary was, Christ was, and wherever Christ was, Mary wanted to be.
 
The Bible tells us that Mary was "blessed" and highly favored. The word "blessed" in this instance means "happy" with favor.
 
May the Lord make you happy with His favor!
 
Christmas Angels All Around
Click here for this Christmas Angel Craft.
 
Angels were present at the Mary Miracle.  In fact, these supernatural beings were highly active in her life from the beginning of conception to birth. 
 
Heavenly angels came at the appointed time, appeared at the appointed place and come to the appointed person(s) for this miracle. 
 
The angels didn't pass judgment on Mary.  They spoke and explained what would happen to her, assured her of God's provision for the process, and pronounced the event when it was time to reveal the Savior Jesus. 
 
May God's favor send angels to help you through each step of your journey, and assure you that He will be there through the entire process.
 
Know that you are Highly Favored
 
Reading what we now know as the Christmas story from the passages written by Matthew and Luke, there is no doubt that Mary received favor from God when He chose her to give birth to Jesus.  
 
Like Mary, God has a miracle He has reserved just for you.  No one else has been selected for this event, but you.  This favor is designed for your journey alone.
 
The Lord has something wonderful set apart that He wants to “birth” in your life, but your answer must be like Mary’s …
 
“be it unto me according to Your will.” 
 
What God wanted to do through Mary changed the world, but it came with a price.  Her reputation, place to live, friends and family were all compromised when she said, "Yes" to God's plan.  Was it worth it?  I think Mary would say it was.
 
The verb form of highly favored is only used two times in the New Testament, that being in Luke 1:28 (KJV) where it is directly spoken to Mary ...
 
“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.(Luke 1:28 KJV)
 
and in Ephesians 1:6 ... 
 
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6 KJV)
 
The second is directed to the church of Christ, the Body of Believers, you and I.  "You are accepted in the Beloved."
 
 
The Mary in You
 
Yes, Mary was a virgin, but she was no different than you or I when it comes to the things of this world.  We don't get to experience the virgin birth, but we all get tired, confused, troubled and wonder why things happen to us just like Mary.
 
The difference is that when these things came upon Mary, she had favor on her side to see her through what God had in mind for her journey.  Although she wondered or pondered things in her heart as the Word says, she was open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
 
God wants to bestow His favor on your life also.  He didn't show Mary favor through an abundance of miracles in her life.  There was only one true miracle, Jesus, but her life needed favor on it to fulfill the promise of God to us.
 
I'm praying that God will give you the Mary Miracle for your life and bestow favor on each situation you may encounter until it is fulfilled.
 
 
 
Heavenly Father,
 
I ask that you give the gift of the "Mary Miracle" of favor to help Your children walk out the call You have on their lives.  May it be full of blessings, joy and gladness with angels compassed around them as they pursue holiness.
 
May their lives reflect the Spirit of the Lord in all they do.  May confusion and trouble be far removed as they open their heart and lives to Your will as Mary did.
 
In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
“Merry Christmas Beloved!”
 
Until next year, may Jesus make you happy with His favor.
 
 
 “I came that you might have life abundantly!”
Jesus Christ

Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.  Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.
 
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy. A.N.A. logo by J.C.Penney, Inc.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provide by Gateway Bible
Image credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified. 
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.