During a time of ministry, someone needed a word from God. Don’t we all? Just hearing a word from Him, and responding in our heart, changes our lives.

Holy Spirit said to tell this dear one, “Celebrate being chosen!” I have to admit it was a word I needed to hear myself. Celebrate. Being Chosen. In the same ministry setting, a sister shared Luke’s account of Mary’s being chosen by God to bear His Son.

This sister shared that Mary immediately went into her reasoning. In Luke 1:29: “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” So human. So like the way I try to figure out what all of ‘this’ means, when a ‘this’ takes place in my life.

Pivotal is the word “but.” “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” [verse 30] Favor? How could this be ‘favor’? Mary’s previous dreams, plans, hopes, and traditions in life were changing on a dime. What’s more, Mary was facing slander. Her life was endangered; so it seemed. Favor? How could this be?

So the question arose: “Celebrate”? How was she to celebrate this radical change in her life’s goals? Would she survive this “chosen” post? Would anyone understand? Probably very few.  Joseph! Oh my Joseph! What is he going to say? What is he going to do? Will he abandon me?

Father chose Mary for His plan. To celebrate would mean to observe this day as a remembrance of when He chose her to bear His plans and not her own. He favored her to carry the best: Jesus Christ. Did she choose His plan? She replied: “Be it done unto me according to Your word.” What courage it took for Mary to choose His plan–radical as it seemed–over her own reasoning–her own self-imposed safety.

Probably one of the most powerful responses we can have to Father God is: “Yes, Lord.” Still, it risks the changes of everything we have ever planned for our lives.

We can trust Him.