December 19 Devotion - " Let it be to me according to your word.”

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Maryam. (Her real name in Aramaic) ²⁸ And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
²⁹ But when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Maryam, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
³⁴ Then Maryam said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible.”
³⁸ Then Maryam said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:26-38 

How does Maryam respond to the word of God that was delivered to her by the angel Gabriel?

She knows she is hearing something beyond human capability. Her question, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” is prompted by wonderment and not by doubt. She immediately responds with faith and trust. Maryam's prompt response of "Yes" to the divine message is a model of faith for all believers.

Maryam believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager to do God's will, even though it could end up in her being stoned to death.

When God commands He also gives the help, strength, and means to respond. We can either yield to His grace or resist and go our own way. Today, let us start/continue believing in God's promises and yielding to His grace.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for loving me with a deep and everlasting love, thank You for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Lord, help me to live a grace-filled life as Your maidservant Maryam did, by believing in your promises and by giving You my unqualified "Yes" to Your will and plan for my life. Abba Father, today let the Holy Spirit show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can say the same words as Your maidservant Maryam; mother of our Lord and blessed among women; said in total faith: “Let it be to me according to your word.” God I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His Holy Name. To Him be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever, Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

وفي الشهر السادس أرسل جبرائيل الملاك من الله الى مدينة من الجليل اسمها ناصرة

27 الى عذراء مخطوبة لرجل من بيت داود اسمه يوسف .واسم العذراء مريم .

28 فدخل اليها الملاك وقال سلام لك ايتها المنعم عليها .الرب معك مباركة انت في النساء .

29 فلما رأته اضطربت من كلامه وفكرت ما عسى ان تكون هذه التحية .

30 فقال لها الملاك لا تخافي يا مريم لانك قد وجدت نعمة عند الله .

31 وها انت ستحبلين وتلدين ابنا وتسمينه يسوع .

32 هذا يكون عظيما وابن العلي يدعى ويعطيه الرب الاله كرسي داود ابيه .

33 ويملك على بيت يعقوب الى الابد ولا يكون لملكه نهاية

34 فقالت مريم للملاك كيف يكون هذا وانا لست اعرف رجلا .

35 فاجاب الملاك وقال لها .الروح القدس يحل عليك وقوة العلي تظللك فلذلك ايضا القدوس المولود منك يدعى ابن الله .

36 وهوذا اليصابات نسيبتك هي ايضا حبلى بابن في شيخوختها وهذا هو الشهر السادس لتلك المدعوة عاقرا .

37 لانه ليس شيء غير ممكن لدى الله .

38 فقالت مريم هوذا انا أمة الرب .ليكن لي كقولك .فمضى من عندها الملاك