Let It Be According to Your Word: Mary's Faith

Devotional

Day 1: The Virgin Birth: Our Hope’s Foundation

Christmas announces the greatest miracle: the virgin birth. Jesus was not born from Adam’s sinful line; He came by the power of God so He could be the spotless sacrifice for our sin. Because He is sinless, His cross truly counts, and His righteousness can really be given to us. This miracle sets Christianity apart and anchors our confidence that salvation is God’s idea and God’s work. Rest your heart in this: He is able to save completely because He came to us purely and powerfully [02:17].

Isaiah 7:14: The Lord Himself will give you a sign—a virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and He will be called Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.”

Reflection: Where do you still carry guilt like a weight, and how will you practice receiving Jesus’ sinless righteousness over that exact moment this week (for example, with a simple prayer or confession)?

Day 2: Highly Favored—Praying God’s Favor Daily

Mary was called “highly favored,” and that same favor is something God invites you to ask for. Favor isn’t luck; it’s God’s gracious hand helping, opening doors, surrounding you with the right people at the right time. Pray it over your life, your family, and your day—morning and night—believing God delights to bless His kids. Don’t be shy about it; the Lord loves to give wisdom and protection where His favor rests. Start the day and end the day with “Father, let Your favor rest on me,” and expect Him to show up [05:42].

Luke 1:28–30: The angel greeted her, “Celebrate, you who are deeply favored; the Lord is with you.” Seeing her fear, he added, “Don’t be afraid, Mary—you’ve found favor with God.”

Reflection: What meeting, class, or conversation on your calendar this week needs God’s favor, and how will you ask for it morning and night?

Day 3: Don’t Deny Reality—Deny Its Final Say

Mary asked, “How can this be?”—a real question rooted in real circumstances. Faith doesn’t pretend reality isn’t there; it simply refuses to treat reality as permanent when God has spoken. Your situation may look impossible, but God is greater than what you see, feel, or can fix. Bring your “how can this be?” to Him and let His power write a new ending. With God, nothing is impossible, and He delights to do more than you can think or imagine [11:03].

Luke 1:34–35, 37: Mary asked how such a thing could happen since she had not been with a man. The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you,” and added, “With God, nothing is impossible.”

Reflection: Name one “that’s just how it is” reality you face, and what specific promise from Scripture will you speak over it every day for the next seven days?

Day 4: Let It Be to Me—Agreeing With God’s Word

The turning point in Mary’s story was her agreement: “Let it be to me according to Your word.” God is not confused or hesitant; His Word is settled, and He invites you to settle your heart under it. When you ask, “What does God say?” and align your choices with that answer, you position yourself for His provision and power. Some see God move more simply because they choose to agree with Him more. Let His Word rule your heart, even when your understanding is still catching up [14:29].

Luke 1:38: Mary replied, “I am the Lord’s servant; let everything happen just as You have said.”

Reflection: What decision are you making right now, and what verse will you let be the “final word” as you choose your next step?

Day 5: Worship While You Wait—Warfare in the Waiting

Mary broke into worship while the promise was still unfolding, and that is a powerful pattern for you. In the middle of delays, worship pushes back fear and creates room for God’s presence to fill your atmosphere. Praise is not filler; it’s warfare that binds the enemy and lifts your faith. Instead of worrying your way through the wait, worship your way through it. Choose a song, a psalm, or simple words of love to God—and let praise lead your heart forward [18:55].

Psalm 149:6–9: Let God’s people carry high praise like a sword; in praising, the Lord restrains the enemy and breaks his plans, for this honor belongs to all His faithful ones.

Reflection: Choose a time you’re most tempted to worry; what place, song, or psalm will you use to worship there this week while you wait?

Sermon Summary

We’re in the Christmas season looking straight at the greatest miracle the world has ever seen: God the Son taking on flesh through the virgin birth. That miracle isn’t a side note; it’s the foundation. If Jesus had been born of a man, He’d share Adam’s sin and could never be the spotless Lamb. But born of God, He is sinless, qualified to carry our sin and give us His righteousness. Angels announced it, but Scripture defines it—our final authority is the Word of God, not any later “revelation.” Christianity stands on this: a real virgin birth and a real Savior who is really God with us.

I walked us through Luke 1: the angel calls Mary “highly favored.” She’s blessed, but she isn’t deity—she needed the Savior she carried. Her honest question—“How can this be since I do not know a man?”—shows us a critical pattern: faith doesn’t deny reality; faith denies reality the right to be permanent. God changes realities. The angel’s line is heaven’s perspective: “With God nothing will be impossible.” But notice the hinge: Mary’s response, “Let it be to me according to your word.” That’s the posture that aligns earth with heaven. God is able to do anything, but He invites our agreement. So the most powerful question you can ask in any season is, “What does God say?”

That’s why I pray favor over my kids and grandkids, and why I’ve learned to filter money, health, direction—everything—through the Word. I shared how God moved when I took steps that defied my reality—Bible college, job changes—because faith acts on God’s promise, then watches Him provide. And what do we do in the waiting? We worship. Mary sang while she waited. Worship isn’t filler—it’s warfare. It binds the enemy, shifts the atmosphere, and keeps your heart anchored in God’s character until the promise shows up. God doesn’t move because of need; He moves where faith meets His already-provided grace. So put on the lenses of faith, agree with His Word, worship while you wait, and watch Him turn impossibilities into testimonies.

Key Takeaways

1. The virgin birth changes everything Jesus had to be born of God to be sinless, so He could carry our sin and give us His righteousness. This miracle is not optional; it’s the anchor of the gospel and the uniqueness of our faith. Angels heralded it, but Scripture settles it for good. [03:11]
2. Faith admits facts, denies permanence Mary didn’t pretend; she asked, “How can this be?” Faith looks reality in the face and then submits it to God’s Word. We don’t let present conditions write our final story—God’s promise does. [13:10]
3. Agreement activates God’s promises “Let it be to me according to your word” is the doorway of divine activity. God is able, but He invites our yes to align us with His provision. Ask, “What does God say?”—then agree, act, and expect. [19:17]
4. Worship is warfare while you wait Mary worshiped between promise and fulfillment, and so should we. Worship creates atmosphere, binds the enemy, and keeps our hearts aligned with God’s nature. Choose worship over worry; it’s how battles are won in the unseen. [36:28]
5. God moves by faith, not need Need is everywhere, but faith is what connects us to what God has already supplied in Christ. Trust shifts us from desperation to participation in His provision and power. Believe, align, and receive. [39:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:11] - Why the virgin birth matters
[06:20] - Mary is favored, not deity
[09:46] - The greatness and kingdom of Jesus
[13:10] - Faith faces reality, not permanence
[16:35] - Nothing is impossible with God
[19:17] - “Let it be according to Your word”
[22:07] - Ask first: What does God say?
[24:46] - Prosperity: Scripture and common sense
[27:43] - Seeing through the lens of faith
[30:27] - Testimony: Bible college breakthrough
[33:12] - Stepping beyond your current reality
[36:28] - Worship while you wait
[39:44] - God moves by faith, not need
[42:37] - Prayer and blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 1:26-38

Observation questions

In Luke 1:26-38, how are Mary and Jesus described? List the exact phrases you see (for example: “highly favored,” “blessed among women,” “Son of the Highest,” “His kingdom… no end”).
What honest question does Mary ask, and how does the angel answer her?
What two statements sit right at the hinge of the story: one from heaven’s side and one from Mary’s side? How do “For with God nothing will be impossible” and “Let it be to me according to your word” work together?
Why might Mary have been “troubled” at the angel’s greeting, given how angels often showed up in Scripture? [06:20]

Interpretation questions

Why is the virgin birth not a side note but a foundation? What breaks if Jesus is born of a man, and what is secured if He is born of God? [03:11]
“Faith admits facts, denies permanence.” How does Mary’s “How can this be?” show faith that faces reality without letting reality write the final story? [13:10]
What does Mary’s “Let it be to me according to your word” teach about the place of agreement in experiencing God’s promises? Where does human “yes” meet divine power? [19:17]
How does worship function as warfare while waiting between promise and fulfillment? What does that suggest about what to do with fear, worry, and spiritual pushback? [36:28]

Application questions

Where are you facing a hard reality right now (health, money, family, direction)? How will you admit the facts but deny their permanence this week? What specific Scripture will you lay over that reality? [13:10]
Pick one promise from the Bible you need today and pray, “Let it be to me according to Your word.” What concrete step of agreement will you take in the next 48 hours to align with that promise? [19:17]
Before your next decision about money, health, or direction, pause and ask, “What does God say?” How will you seek and confirm that from Scripture? Share the verse you will anchor to and how you’ll act on it. [22:07]
Design a simple “worship while you wait” plan for the next 14 days. When, where, and how will you worship (song list, time of day, place) instead of worrying? Who can keep you accountable to it? [36:28]
Think of a need you’ve been bringing to God. How can you shift from desperation to faith-filled participation? What step of obedience will bring your faith into alignment with what God has already provided? [39:44]
Where is God asking you to step beyond your current reality—apply for something you don’t feel qualified for, make a change that seems risky, or start a new obedience? What is your first small step, and by when will you take it? [30:27]
Who will you pray favor over this week (kids, grandkids, spouse, friend)? What words of blessing will you speak, and how will you build that into a daily rhythm (drive time, bedtime, mealtime)? [06:20]

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