My mom asked me to write a devotional for our home church’s Advent Devotional; I thought let me just drop a few lines here and there. I didn’t realize I was destined for a unique revelation.  I read Luke 1:28-38 and observed Mary’s response to the angel’s declaration and thought it was sheer comedy how she responded and true to form of how we might respond in a similar situation. I thought it would be nice to post as we move toward Christmas and Transition into 2011-Let’s give God a (cash) advance on our Praise this holiday season.

Pt 2 (continued)For many of us, the trouble we have in our lives is because we invited it. Think about it: You were in the presence of God, tears streaming down your face; the choir was singing and your hands were raised, and then you said it—“Lord I just want you to use me. Whatever it takes Lord, just use me. Here I am God. I am available to you.” Yes, you did. You said it! And…well here it is.  That’s the same thing that happened to Isaiah. He was caught in one of the worship services of eternity where he heard the angels crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy” and the doorposts were shaken and the train of God’s robe filled the temple. At the conclusion of that worship encounter Isaiah’s words to the Irresistible Voice were, “Send me. I’ll go.” The Bible says that affliction and persecution come for the sake of the word (Mark 4:17). So if you’re experiencing affliction in your life, it’s because you were given the promise of God through His Word. Just like Mary, the Most High God has overshadowed you and inside of you, He planted the seed of the Word that it would grow and you would give birth to the manifestation of God’s Word. Incidentally, Jesus is the Word made flesh in Mary (John 1:14). Similarly, there’s a word being made flesh in you too.

There is a Word inside of you, the promise of God.  You have been chosen and the promise of delivery is upon you.  Don’t be afraid or dismayed at the greeting of trouble. Don’t be afraid or dismayed at the greeting of hard times and difficulty. Just say I am blessed among the people. Do as heaven’s worship leader instructs: Rejoice! Praise Him in advance. Don’t prepare yourself for the worst case scenario. Prepare with praise for the greatest experience and gift to come into your life. Philippians 4:4, 6 tells us Rejoice in the Lord always and Again…(and again, and again, and again, and again) I say Rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  Do as the angel says and praise God in advance: watch fear dissipate from your life for faith and fear cannot reside in the same space dimensions. You may not understand the logistics of how it will happen, but praise Him in advance and your praise will take on the eyes of faith to see what God has already spoken and declared.  It will come to pass. This is not the season for analysis into paralysis. Praise must become the first response that secures the hope of your future when life interrogates you.  After all, praise is what guarantees us entrance and admission into the realm where God has sovereign control. Psalm 100:4-Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise… Praise Him in Advance and the gates will open.