“Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 1:39-41).

The Lord moves in mysterious ways.  Do we know all that He is doing?  Things are aligned  so that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.  Mary is called to Elizabeth and Elizabeth is moved by the Spirit of God and knows that the Savior is coming.  We worry about details and sometimes forget that the God of all eternity is moving always to bring about salvation for those who believe. 

Lord, seemingly ordinary things happen around me which I do not pay attention to; but You are always lining things up so that Your will is accomplished.  Help me to see and move such that I am a part of what You are doing in this world.  Help me to willingly go where You send me and receive whom You send.  You alone are God and You alone know the end from the beginning.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, to live such that I willingly go where You send me.  Help me to be led by Your Spirit, listening and responding to You as You give me the ability.  Aid me to not be led by what this world does, but to be attuned by Your Spirit and do what is pleasing to the Father.  Teach me all that I need to know to walk the path of faithfulness, seeking the righteousness You give by grace.  Amen.

“And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38).

Mary, the bondslave.  We are born in bondage to sin, and we move from sin to the Lord, yet, for this age, remain in bondage.  It is not a matter of choice in one sense, but of the reality that we are not our own person.  Perhaps this is the place of the real struggle.  The irreducible bottom line is that we want to be on our own.  But we belong either to the rebellion or the Lord.  If to the Lord, then learn obedience.

Lord, You know the struggles of humanity, and You have allowed this for Your own purpose.  Lead me so that I understand that being Your bondslave is the better portion.  Help me to realize that I need You and You have shown Your desire to have me be with You.  Aid me learn how to dwell in the peace that surpasses all understanding so that I may live into the life You are offering me by grace through faith.

Lord Jesus, You know the struggle of the will, which You answered with, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”  Guide me in the way of salvation so that I seek the Father’s will in all things.  Help me to realize that this is not a struggle against the flesh, but against my spirit which rebels at the truth that I am the created and the Father is the Creator.  Help me to say, “Let it be done to me according to Your will.”  Amen.

“And behold, 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.  For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:36-37).

One impossible and one seemingly impossible event happened in the same family.  A virgin and an old age pregnancy. Nothing is impossible with God.  How often do we not believe that God is able?  How often do we choose only what we know when God offers us the unknown?  It is not that we have to believe, but that we cannot understand until we believe.  Come into belief and see God grow in you His image.

Lord, there are many things I have not believed.  I know You are not limited, but too often I am.  I also know You will not give until I am ready to receive.  You do this for my sake.  Help me to learn how to trust You more and more so that I walk deeper into the faith You have given me.  You are able to do all things.  Help me to trust You so that in all things I am walking with You.

Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of this life.  You know where I falter and fail.  Your grace enables me to walk by faith.  Help me to live the faith You have given me.  If You see the need to do something through me, help me to have faith so that I trust You when You ask me to believe.  Now and always, keep me from living with my doubts so that I may live in the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”  The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:34-35).

How can this be?  The God who created all things is able to do what He chooses to do.  The first parents were created, not born, yet in every other way, they were like us.  Or should we say, we are like them.  We often limit ourselves to our own understanding of things and do not seek to come into the understanding that with God, all things are possible.  Of course, a virgin can be with child.  How?  I do not know; but He is the God through whom all things have their being.  With a word He created all things.

Lord, open me up so that I do not seek to understand things without thinking.  Help me to understand that You are Almighty and reign over all things.  It will be as You determine.  Guide me out of the malaise of this world to hold fast to the simple truth that You have wonderfully created each one of us as we are and You will lead us to be who we are and do what we do for Your purpose.  Lead me up and out of this world’s thinking to trust You above all things.

Lord Jesus, vulnerable and born in precarious worldly circumstances, You have paved the way for those who come through You to become children of the Heavenly Father.  Your creation has begun anew with each person who comes into Your grace.  Lead me the way I need to be led to go where I need to go.  Help my unbelief so that I do not settle but continue upon the path which You have set before me.  Amen.

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33).

Who is this One born of Mary?  This has been the question from the time He was born.  What does God say?  Listen to these words.  He will reign; the rebellion shall be overcome.  He will hold in His hands what He has established.  He shall be seen as one of us, yet also we know He is God.  What He does is forever.  Yes, there is mystery, for this is God who is doing these things.  Will your life be directed by yourself or by Him?

Lord, I have heard these words many times, but I often do not think about them.  You created all things and You are re-creating all things anew through grace.  I often think in terms of things done and not in terms of things being done.  You have called me into Your kingdom and have given me the hope that I will be made into Your child, born not of flesh and blood, but of Your power unleashed which makes all things new.

Lord Jesus, babe lying in a manger, You have revealed the next step of the journey.  To those who believe, You have called us to live in Your lineage, not the lineage of rebellion.  You have called us into the new creation to become what You will make of us.  Aid me to see through the lies of this age in order to become what You will make of me.  Help me to become like You.  Amen.

“The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).

Do not be afraid; you have found favor with God.  This is not just for Mary, but for all who come into the grace which has come because Jesus was born.  The name Jesus means “God’s salvation.”  All who come to Him enter into God’s salvation which begins with repentance and the forgiveness of sin.  That is the beginning.  Becoming a sanctified child of God will take the rest of your life.

We each have conceived in us the image of Christ and it must grow so that we become like Christ.  Step by step and day by day, we are called to be conformed to the image of Christ our Savior.  There is much fear in this world and this fear is debilitating.  Greater is He who is in you that anything in this world which He made.  He has come to lead you in overcoming the adversity of this world.

Lord, You have come to lead me in salvation.  Through You alone comes hope.  I fear and I forget that You have told me to not be afraid.  Send forth Your Spirit so that I may live in the hope You give me.  Guide me according to the Father’s purpose to live into the life You have set before me.  May salvation grow within me as You gestated in Mary’s womb.  Help me to become like You.  Amen.

“And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was” (Luke 1:28-29).

Are you perplexed with the thought that you are favored by the Lord?  Do you believe that the Lord is near to you?  Do you feel at times that He is far off?  He is always with you, so if this is true, where is the problem?  What kind of salvation has the Lord brought into the world?  Is it up to you to understand, or is it a proclamation that lies just beyond your understanding?  “Greetings favored one.”

Lord, I too am perplexed in the midst of an honest moment when I think that You could do anything with the likes of me.  I am one of muddled thinking.  The world is filled with lies and I know that You speak the truth.  Help me to see the lies and understand the truth so that I may walk in a way that is right and good.  You have called whom You have called, and those who hear Your call walk in the truth of the salvation You have prepared.

Lord Jesus, You were born in a particular time in the midst of particular circumstances.  You have called me from my circumstances to come follow You.  Help me learn how to ponder these things and follow.  Let the light of truth break forth through all that I experience that I may be further strengthened to walk in Your salvation.  Let me not hinder what You are doing, but instead, be guided by Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27).

God prepared the way so that the circumstances were as He wanted them to be. Whole books have been written on many of the things that this means with these particular circumstances. Perhaps it would best for us is to realize that we also are in a circumstance that is according to God’s purpose, for we also have been called to fulfill the Father’s will. You are in a particular time and place and of a lineage that He purposed.

Lord, I often forget that all things are in Your hands. As You called Mary, the mother of Jesus, so also You call each one of us to live in Your salvation. We are tainted and sin-filled, but by Your grace You make us pure and holy. You take what has been defiled and make of it that which is pure. You prepare the way before each of us. You did this perfectly with the mother of our Lord Jesus.

My Lord and Savior, there are so many things I do not understand, but You have come so that I may have hope and gain understanding. Lead me out of the lies of this age to trust what You have given me. Guide me in the way of truth, trusting in the preparation You have made for all who look to You with the hope You give through salvation. Lead me, Lord, and help me to follow You alone. Amen.

“When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,  “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men” (Luke (1:23-25)

We may not fully understand the ways of the culture, but we do understand waiting a long time and then rejoicing at the fulfillment of hope.  She who had no children was with child.  With God it is never too late.  He will do what shall be done and always according to His will and timing. The Lord has created you with purpose and calls you to come into the hope of faith and live within His purpose.

Lord, this world is filled with heartache and disappointment.  Amidst all of the expectations heaped upon us by the world, You tell us to trust in You.  We have expectations, and You give the promise that everything has a purpose.  The world tells me that I need to do certain things in order to be acceptable.  You tell me that You wonderfully created me and that You want me to trust and follow You.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world to bring as many as would follow You into the presence of the Most High God, our Father in heaven.  You have prepared the way by paying the cost we could never pay in order to become what we could never become without You.  Help me to learn and understand more clearly so that I may trust in the Father’s plan and not live according to the expectations of this world.  Amen.

“The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.  But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute” (Luke 1:21-22).

Something happened, but no one knew what it was.  How many times do things happen around us, but we are not able to understand what is happening?  The Lord is always at work around us.  How much more would be done in this generation if we just believed, went out, and lived what we believe?  Some receive a lesson the hard way, but the point is to learn the lesson knowing that it will be as God determines.

Do you believe?  Through your baptism, God has brought you into His presence.  No longer does one need to tell you that you are in the presence of God.  What are you going to do with this reality?  Will you continue to do nothing, be busy with the things of this world, or listen to the direction of the Lord?  Belief is the action of faith.  It is not about getting it right, but about stepping out in faith believing that God will do what He says He will do.

Lord Jesus, You asked how long would You need to tolerate an unbelieving generation.  I am that generation, but I do not need to live in  unbelief.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to see the miracle You have brought to reality in me through faith.  Guide me in Your grace to boldly walk in and by the faith You have given me.  Help me to understand that it is in my actions that I live out the faith You have given me.  Amen.