the reason, he spoke these words: “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have
found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
The root word for “favor” is the same as the one for “favorite.” So
he was saying, “Don’t worry, Mary. You are a favorite of God’s!”
Who was this favored one? A girl from a small town who had
probably never envisioned herself living beyond the provincial for-
mula for happiness: marriage and children. In fact, she was little
more than a child herself. Perhaps that was why God had chosen her
for this holy mission. Her heart was innocent. She had not outgrown
her capacity to believe and trust. Her vision of an angel did not fly
in the face of her childlike faith.
And although Mary had probably never imagined what she saw
before her, she believed the angel’s words. Unlike her cousin Eliza-
beth’s husband, Zechariah, a temple priest, she was not struck dumb
by Gabriel’s message. She was in awe to be sure, but open to his
words.
Now, what about you? Have you always had in your mind how
life would be: same town, same friends, same church? What if you
heard the Lord speaking to you, not through an angel, but through
his Word, the words of a friend, or the words of this book, saying,
“Will you be my person in this situation? Will you come to me in
prayer and hear me? Will you step out of your comfort zone and let
me use you?” Would your answer be like Mary’s?
Oh, Lord, I don’t want to miss what you have for me. Open my spir-
itual eyes and ears to see and hear you. And give me the courage to
say, “May it be to me as you have said.” Amen.168 CLAIRECLONINGER