The 40-Day Challenge : Day 10
- 1
- Feb
- 2013
“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’” (Luke 1:28-30)
Now, imagine Mary being visited by an angel on an ordinary day… It was God who visited her!
There are many people who ‘run after’ God, saying, “Give me this, give me that…”
But Mary was not visited because she asked; her own life invited God, drew His attention.
What was special about Mary?
Remember, she was pure in heart, she protected her faith… she was a ‘virgin’.
This is what draws the attention of God. It’s not your malice, your disapproval or judgement, but your purity. It’s when you have good eyes.
“But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying…”
Instead of being excited about the news, she stopped to think for a moment… She did not consider herself worthy of such an honour, which is what normally happens with those who belong to God. She did not think she deserved it.
“… and considered what manner of greeting this was.”
Mary did not feed her emotions when she heard what the angel said, but she examined herself to find out what had drawn God’s attention.
Though she was considered pure in the sight of God, she did not think much of herself…
This is why she was troubled.
Imagine God finding something good in you…
Mary’s attitude and rational behaviour drew God’s attention.
When we cherish our spiritual virginity, we are living by faith. We are firm, and not influenced by what other people say or think…
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Mary was a rational ‘virgin’; this is why she kept herself pure.
And you too can become a ‘virgin’ if you confront what is not rational, what is against the Word of God.
People who live by emotion are not looking for an answer; they are after an illusion.
I don’t know your past, whether you’ve lived by emotion and made many mistakes, but I know one thing: the God that I’ve found. I know what I’ve been through, my failures, my mistakes, but I also know what He’s done in my life — and that He can do the same in your life!
What happened yesterday does not matter anymore. Focus on your present, know the Truth and become pure.
If you have been in the church for many years, but your heart is corrupted, you have done everything wrong, or displeased God, there’s still hope for you!
When you start reasoning, you will stop being influenced by your feelings and will rid yourself of everything that has contaminated you.
Lift up your head and look ahead. Our God does not live off the glory or the failures of the past… He says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
He is telling you, “Come as you are, full of problems…”
Surrender your problems to God, and I’m sure He will deal with them.
And everything will be made new…
AdA
10th January 2018 at 23:10
This is very true and this is also what I am eager to out to practice. I kept on reminding myself that emotional is only temporary so I should focus on reasoning and move on. Other thing that stood up for me is that I should not worry about future or past, I should really just focus on now and know that God will deal with my past mistakes or future problems.
Marilyn
7th January 2017 at 19:34
Thank you Ms. Viviane for this message I have been very hard on myself this couple of days because I have felt that I done so much wrong and have been doing my best to change all that but in the end I have been haunted by all the accusing voices that the devil has put in my head that I haven’t been able to concentrate. What I have learned today was to ask God to forgive our sins and at the same time forgive yourself and find ways to stay close to God.