FINDING GOD'S FAVOR by Jo Ann Kelly

[Thea]

FINDING GOD'S FAVOR

"And the angel said unto her, fear not Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God."
....Luke 1: 30
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God chose a young Jewish woman, who was a virgin, to bring forth His
only begotten Son. Mary was a young virgin woman who found favor with
God, and who was told to "fear not" when God's
plan was announced to her by an angel.

When we accept God's amazing grace today, we find also favor
with Him. His gift to us is the gift which keeps on giving.
There is no gift to compare with the gift of salvation and
to know that we have eternal life and God is our
Heavenly Father.

Mary was told that she was "highly favored" and that
the Lord was with her. The angel Gabriel declared to her
that she was blessed among women. The child which was
conceived in her womb was the Son of the Highest,
and as Mary was told, "He would reign over the house of Jacob
for ever, and of his kingdom, there would be no end.

Just as Mary questioned, "How can this be," and did not
understand fully the immaculate conception; men today
question how God can take a heart that is black with
sin, cover it with his crimson blood, and make it as
white as snow in the new birth. The work
is that of the Lord and is both spiritual and supernatural.
We cannot work to gain His favor, but we must believe
and have faith to receive all that the Lord has for us.

Mary received the word given her by a messenger of
the Lord and said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord. And, my spirit
hath rejoiced in God, my Savior. She proclaimed that, "He that is
mighty hath done to her great things, and holy is His name."

Today, we have the promise of God's grace because of that
first Christmas and the child who was born to be the Savior
of the world. As Mary foretold over 2,000 years ago,
'His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation."

May the blessings of that first glorious Christmas
fill your heart and life today, and always. May we reveal His
love in our living, His grace in our giving, and Christianity in our
citizenship; through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Jo Ann Kelly © 2009
J. P.'s Inspirations
http://www.my.homewithgod.com/jpinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits intact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.