While I prayed and meditated on the meaning of Christmas, a vision of Mary appeared to me as described in the Gospel of Luke. The sweetness of the picture slipped over me and tears trailed down my cheeks.

As the sun gradually dissipated the morning mist, Mary walked towards town. A bird trilled a sweet melody, and its music covered her like a warm blanket. She giggled ecstatically as her heart burst with love for the precious creatures God had made.

Then the Angel Gabriel appeared before her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Her heart fluttered upward at the sight of him, and she wondered what type of greeting it was that he offered her.

But the angel smiled at her and continued, “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

Can you image the scene? Can you see Mary’s face? The fear pulsating through her body as  she immediately thought, “who me”?

Doubts poured into her mind as she wondered, whom am I that God would want to use me? I am just a simple woman. What can I do? I’m not wealthy or hold a high position– heck I’m not even married!

Mary replied, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”

But Gabriel assured her that absolutely everything was possible with God.

To confirm it he told her that Elizabeth, her relative, was pregnant even though she was well past the age of childbirth. If God could give a child to her than Mary, a virgin, wouldn’t possibly pose a problem.

Then Mary’s unbelievable response, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said.”

The faith demonstrated by her words were remarkable. She dared to believe what she heard and placed her faith in Him.

God asked for Mary’s willing participation to allow this Christmas miracle to come to pass. Imagine what would’ve happened if she had said no because of fear or unwillingness to be obedient to His calling?

God, however, knew Mary’s heart and that she wouldn’t say no, which is why she had found favor with Him. Her destiny was to become the mother of Jesus– to raise him, to love him, to educate him and then to eventually let him go– the Savior of the world.

Can you imagine?

He called Mary to be the mother of Jesus and asked her to believe in the impossible. What an awesome and amazing assignment.

And think about it, because she dared to believe, we’re now blessed to experience the love of God within us every moment of every day.

Her words, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be as you have said,” changed the lives of future generations and will continue until the day Jesus comes back.

What is God asking you to believe today? What does He want to do through you that could possibly change the world, if only you dared to believe like Mary?

Think about it and tell God, “I am your servant. May it be as you have said.” Then wait with exuberant expectation at the miracles He will perform all because you willingly dared to believe and said YES!