Christmas Means Trusting God By Nick Laurenzana (Luke 1)

Devotional

Day 1: God values character more than words or deeds

In a world that rushes past deep formation, Mary reminds you that who you are when no one is watching matters most. She was prepared to recognize God’s voice because a lifetime of quiet faithfulness shaped her ears and her heart. She lived in a legacy of trust, yet her own choices of purity, humility, and obedience stood out. God’s grace found her ready. Enter the new year aiming not merely to say and do the right things, but to become the kind of person who recognizes and welcomes God’s presence. [03:58]

Luke 1:28–30 — A messenger from God entered Nazareth and greeted a young woman, telling her she had been graciously chosen and that the Lord’s presence rested upon her. Disturbed by the moment, she tried to understand what it meant. He calmed her, urging her not to fear, because she was living under God’s favor.

Reflection: What is one unseen habit this week that reveals what is shaping your character, and what small, concrete change could you make to let God form Christlike character there?

Day 2: Make God’s Word important in your life

Mary’s readiness was nourished by Scripture—she knew the “do not fear” of God and sang back His promises in her own words. In a season filled with plans and goals, decide that Scripture will not be distant but near—open on the counter, at the desk, in the rhythm of your days. A plan helps, but availability matters most; a few faithful minutes beat lofty intentions lost in the shuffle. Invite others into the journey for encouragement and accountability. God’s word does not fail, and hearts that receive it learn to say, “Let it take shape in me.” [04:21]

Luke 1:37–38 — No promise from God falls to the ground. Mary responded that she belonged to the Lord and asked that His word would take shape in her life.

Reflection: Where will you keep an open Bible in the place you spend your busiest hour, and at what set time this week will you meet God there?

Day 3: Joy rooted in grace, not circumstances

Mary rejoiced in God her Savior while stepping into misunderstanding, rumors, and real hardship. Joy is not denial; it is the settled confidence that grace is deeper than whatever today holds. We can ask God to change hard circumstances and, at the same time, choose joy that rests in who He is. Like faithful servants before us, we worship not only when God delivers but also when He seems quiet. Let your spirit learn to say, “Even here, especially here, my joy is in the Lord.” [03:47]

Daniel 3:16–18 — The three men told the king they did not need to defend themselves. Their God was able to rescue them from the fire and from the king’s power. But even if rescue did not come, they would not bow to any other god.

Reflection: What is one unresolved situation weighing on you today, and how could you practice rejoicing in God in a specific way while still asking Him to act?

Day 4: God is preparing you to change someone’s life

Mary stood at the launch of a world-changing moment; God often prepares us quietly before He uses us openly. This year, He may shape your life so another person’s story can change—through a conversation, a prayer, a shared meal, a steady presence. Don’t wait to be perfectly put together; Jesus meets you right where you are and says, “Start now.” Fear will knock, but the Spirit gives courage to witness to grace with both words and deeds. Take one faithful step and watch how God multiplies it. [04:05]

Acts 1:8 — When the Holy Spirit empowers you, you will become my witnesses, beginning where you live and extending outward to the farthest places on earth.

Reflection: Whose name keeps coming to mind when you pray, and what is one gentle step you could take for them this week (a text, a meal, an offer to pray, practical help)?

Day 5: Confidence through the Holy Spirit and the Word

Questions are not the enemy of faith; Mary’s “How can this be?” met the promise of the Spirit and the certainty of God’s word. God anchors confidence not in our strength but in His presence, power, and unfailing promises. The Spirit supplies what we lack, shapes Christlike fruit in us, and gives boldness to share the gospel. As you step into the unknown, let Scripture steady your steps and the Spirit empower your obedience. Answer with Mary’s posture: “I am the Lord’s servant; let Your word unfold in me.” [04:32]

Luke 1:34–35, 38 — Mary asked how such a thing could happen. The messenger said the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would cover her, so the child would be holy, the Son of God. Mary responded that she belonged to the Lord and wanted His word to unfold in her life.

Reflection: Where do you feel least capable right now, and what simple prayer will you bring each day this week asking the Spirit to supply what you lack and to root you in a specific promise from Scripture?

Sermon Summary

Amid the rush from one holiday to the next, the focus turns to Mary in Luke 1:26–38 as a lens for looking back at Christmas and forward to a new year. The central question is stark: What will a disciple do when God seems silent? Israel had absorbed four centuries of silence since Malachi, yet Mary lived with a whole heart toward God. She discerned the authenticity of Gabriel’s greeting because she knew Scripture’s pattern—“Do not be afraid”—and because her life had been formed by godly character, a legacy of faith, and a heart tuned to God’s voice.

Mary is addressed as “highly favored” (kecharitōmenē)—graced in the past, graced in the present, and kept in grace for what lies ahead. That favor did not arrive in a vacuum. It was recognized in a life already shaped by the Word of God and a quiet, tested faithfulness. From there, the path of discipleship becomes clear: make Scripture central, imitate Christlike humility, and anchor joy in the greater reality of God’s grace rather than in shifting circumstances. Mary’s Magnificat reveals a mind saturated with the Old Testament; she prays Scripture back to God. Practical habits follow—keeping the Bible open, walking with others in accountable community, and choosing the low road of obedience.

Mary’s calling also widens the horizon: God was preparing her to bear the King whose kingdom has no end. Likewise, God prepares ordinary believers to be instruments of extraordinary change. The good news is that perfection is not the prerequisite; grace meets people where they are and then sends them. The question “How?” is answered in the same way Mary received strength: the Holy Spirit will do the work. The Spirit empowers witness, forms Christlike fruit, intercedes in weakness, and illuminates the Word. And the Word itself does not fail—“No word from God will ever fail.” The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the Son of God, building a settled confidence to step into the coming year with faith like Mary—formed in character, available for God’s purposes, and courageous to say, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Key Takeaways

1. God values character over performance God’s delight rests not on polished words or busy activity but on the person being formed when no one is watching. Character is where trust, obedience, and integrity are forged—and from that life, faithful words and deeds naturally flow. Mary’s “favor” is recognized in a heart already trained by Scripture and devotion. In the new year, invest more in becoming than in merely doing. [17:54]
2. Keep Scripture close and formative Mary’s song overflows with Scripture because Scripture had already filled her. The Word didn’t simply inform her; it formed her responses, her courage, and her joy. Keep it within reach—open on the table, woven into community—so that your reflexes become biblical, not merely emotional. Formation precedes discernment. [22:49]
3. Joy is not circumstantial Biblical joy rests in a larger story than the day’s diagnosis or disappointment. It does not deny pain; it defies the rule of pain by remembering the steadfast grace of God. Pray for change and also choose joy even when change delays; both are acts of faith. “Even if” love is purified joy. [27:38]
4. Anticipate life change through obedience God often begins world-sized work with quiet, obedient yeses. Availability matters more than ability; mission starts where you stand, with the people already in your path. Do not wait to be impressive—walk faithfully and expect God to use you. The King still advances His kingdom through ordinary servants. [34:48]
5. Confidence flows from Spirit and Word Courage is not generated by self-talk but given by God. The Spirit empowers witness, cultivates fruit, and illuminates Scripture; the Word anchors faith with unfailing promises. Together they reveal Christ and steady the soul for costly obedience. Confidence grows wherever the Spirit wields the Word. [41:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Guest introduction and background
[02:15] - Christmas series and focus on Mary
[04:37] - Reading Luke 1:26–38
[07:55] - When God feels silent
[09:45] - Israel’s 400 years of silence
[13:22] - Mary discerns a true message
[14:32] - Character, lineage, and legacy
[17:54] - Character over words and deeds
[22:49] - Mary’s Scripture-saturated Magnificat
[26:13] - Humility and the mind of Christ
[27:38] - Joy beyond circumstances
[34:48] - God preparing you to change lives
[39:29] - Spirit-empowered confidence and mission
[41:39] - Stepping into the new year by faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

- Luke 1:26–38

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Observation questions

In Luke 1:29–30, what does Mary do when she hears the greeting? What words in the text show she is testing and discerning?
List the titles and promises spoken about Jesus in 1:31–33. What do these say about who He is and what He will do?
How does Mary move from a real question (v.34) to humble surrender (v.38)? What details mark that shift?
One part of the message lines up with God’s covenant to David: a throne and an unending kingdom. What words in Luke 1:32–33 match that promise, and why would that matter to someone from David’s line? ([33:13])

Interpretation questions

After centuries of silence, Mary is still ready to trust. What forms that kind of readiness in a person when God feels quiet? ([09:45])
The angel calls Mary “highly favored” (graced). How does favor relate to character and obedience rather than ease or comfort? ([19:59])
Mary’s song later in the chapter is Scripture-soaked. What does that suggest about how Scripture forms courage and joy, not just knowledge? ([22:49])
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you” and “no word from God will ever fail.” How do Spirit and Word work together to give confidence for costly obedience? ([41:19])

Application questions

When God seems quiet in your life, which of the three responses do you tend to drift toward—give up, go through the motions, or stay wholehearted? What one step will help you stay faithful this week? ([07:55])
What is one very practical way you will keep Scripture close and formative this month—leave an open Bible on the table, pick a reading plan, or join a group? Share your plan and ask the group to check in with you. ([24:59])
Where is God inviting you to take the low road of obedience and say, “I am the Lord’s servant”? Name a specific yes you can give Him in the next seven days. ([26:13])
Think of a current trial or uncertainty. How will you both pray boldly for change and also choose joy even if change is slow? What will choosing joy look like for you this week? ([27:38])
Who might God be preparing you to impact in 2026—a neighbor, coworker, classmate, or family member? Share a name and a first step you could take with them. ([34:48])
Confidence flows from the Spirit and the Word. What is one conversation or task coming up where you need courage? How will you ask the Spirit for help and anchor yourself in a specific promise? Consider memorizing Luke 1:37. ([38:48])
Character over performance starts in hidden places. In your private habits (phone use, finances, speech, thought life), where is God nudging you to be different? Choose one small habit to practice this week. ([17:54])

Sermon Clips

Or do you think you would have the strength of character to stay true with your whole heart and say, god, I don't know why you aren't speaking. I don't know why you aren't considering me. I don't know why you are distant, but you're gonna find me faithful. And with your whole heart, would you stay true and faithful to trusting God? Man, I hope that I would be found in that last category. I hope you would be too. [00:08:48] (34 seconds) #FaithWithWholeHeart

Would your whole heart be for God even if he felt distant? By the time we get to the birth of Christ in the biblical historical narrative here in Luke chapter one, the Israelite people have not heard from God in four hundred years. Four hundred years without a prophet, four hundred years without a message, four hundred years without thus saith the Lord to the people of Israel. Silent. Nothing from god. [00:09:32] (33 seconds) #FaithWhenGodIsSilent

Maybe you see yourself in your part of a long line like that, of people who have believed in the Lord and trusted God. Or maybe you're the first person in your line that's like, hey, I'm gonna stop the cycle right here and right now, and I'm gonna believe the Lord. And my children's children's children are gonna know the Lord because of my efforts here today. [00:17:22] (23 seconds) #StartALegacyOfFaith

And there are many more, but for time's sake, I'm just gonna share one more that I believe is kinda common to to many of us or maybe you don't deal with this at all. Maybe it's just me. That's okay. I'll just kinda talk it out here. But this third thing, the way you build godly character, is that joy is not determined by your circumstances. Your joy is not determined by your circumstances. Your joy is determined by the greater reality that you are a sinner in need of grace, and God gives that grace abundantly. Amen? [00:27:15] (34 seconds) #JoyRootedInGrace

Well, god is good. God is love. And like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego going into a fiery furnace, even if God doesn't heal, even if God doesn't save, we're still gonna praise. We're still gonna give live lives of godly character. God could have done it. I still have faith to this day that god still can do it. But even if he doesn't, my joy is in the lord, not in my circumstance. [00:31:20] (37 seconds) #JoyBeyondCircumstance

What a big responsibility. Basically, the angel Gabriel is telling Mary that she's going to be raising a person that is going to be an eternal king over all people. No big deal. Right? Just another day in the life of a young woman in Israel in the first century. That would be a total mind bending experience. Hey, Mary. The whole world is about to change because of the son that you're going to carry and give birth to. Get ready. Something big is gonna happen, Mary. What we've been waiting for for hundreds and thousands of years is about to launch. It's happening right now. [00:33:35] (42 seconds) #ChosenToChangeTheWorld

God was preparing Mary for something big. She was going to be the starting point of world changing event, the savior being born. God was preparing her for many people's lives to change because of Jesus. Now that mission is for Mary. But as we look at Christmas and reflect on it, and we look forward to a new year, I think we might have a similar mission. It's very likely that in this new year, God is preparing you to change someone's life. God is preparing you to change someone's life. That's good news. Don't be afraid. [00:34:17] (44 seconds) #PreparedToChangeLives

The combination of the holy spirit and the word of God is really strong in these passages in Luke chapter one and in Mary's life. It the these passages end with this whole idea that no word from God will ever fail. And Mary says, may God's word be fulfilled. The spirit of God uses the word of God to reveal the son of God, Jesus Christ. [00:40:51] (33 seconds) #WordAndSpiritReveal

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