Mary’s Humble Yes: Obedience, Prayer, and Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Humble surrender leads to obedient, extraordinary calling.

Mary’s “may it be to me as you have said” models immediate, humble obedience as the fitting response to God’s call; choosing surrender over delay opens ordinary lives to extraordinary purposes. When a person says yes without having all the answers, God supplies power and purpose; that obedience moves the kingdom forward and releases the gifts the Spirit placed within each believer. You are invited to consider what small step of obedience God is asking of you today and to take it without delay. [39:31]

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Reflection: What is one specific thing God has asked you to do that you have been delaying? Name the step you will take within the next 48 hours to obey, and who you will tell to keep you accountable.

Day 2: Praise God now, even amid present suffering.

Mary’s song teaches that praise is not postponed until pain ends; praising God in the moment acknowledges His presence and purposes even when grief feels like waves that take the breath away. When you lift your voice from the depths, it roots your hope in God’s mercies and reminds you that the Mighty One has done great things and will continue to work even in suffering. Practice speaking praise in the middle of the struggle so God’s perspective can reframe the moment and sustain you. [01:07:53]

Luke 1:46-55 (NIV)
46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Reflection: Identify one painful circumstance you are carrying; what would “praising God in the middle of this” actually look like this week (a spoken prayer, a written psalm, or a specific act of worship)? Commit to that act when the next “wave” hits.

Day 3: Jesus is God's light and our salvation.

John reminds that the Word became flesh, that the true light entered the world and offers anyone who receives him the right to become a child of God; grace and truth dwell with us in Jesus. This passage calls the church to remember that the presence of Christ changes identity—believers are born of God—and to carry that good news into a confused, searching world. Take the confidence of being God’s child into your relationships and let the truth of His presence shape how you respond to people who are lost and needy. [01:44:35]

John 1:9-14 (NIV)
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: Who in your circle needs to meet the true light this season? Name one person you will intentionally speak to about Jesus in the next seven days and the concrete way you will begin that conversation.

Day 4: Faith is essential to please and receive God.

The writer of Hebrews states plainly that without faith it is impossible to please God; faith is trusting God’s existence and His goodness enough to seek Him earnestly. This means bringing bold, audacious requests to the Lord and moving forward in obedience even when full answers are not visible, because God rewards those who seek Him. Choose to bring a specific “impossible” thing to God with expectation and to pursue Him daily for an answer. [01:30:45]

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Reflection: What is one prayer you consider “too big” to ask for? Write it down now, and commit to seeking God about it each morning for two weeks, noting any impressions, doors, or small steps He provides.

Day 5: Wait on the Lord; He renews strength.

Isaiah promises that the LORD gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak; those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, soar like eagles, run without weariness, and walk without fainting. This is the promise to bring into seasons of fatigue, ministry stretch, parenting strain, or emotional depletion—waiting on God is an active hope that results in supernatural replenishment. Intentionally schedule times of waiting—prayer, fasting, Sabbath rest—to receive the renewal God offers and to exchange your weakness for His strength. [01:32:53]

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Reflection: Where are you feeling faint or worn out right now? Choose one concrete way you will “wait on the Lord” this month (a 24-hour fast, a day of Sabbath rest, or a focused prayer time) and note what you hope the Lord will renew in you.

Sermon Summary

I walked us through Gabriel’s announcement to Mary and lingered on her quiet, courageous response: “I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.” That is the posture I urged us to embrace—humble surrender that becomes immediate obedience. Obedience is not a small thing; it’s catalytic. When we stop stalling and step into what God has actually asked of us, grace and power meet us on the way. I reminded us there are no insignificant people in God’s kingdom. The Spirit gives gifts as He wills, and the church only becomes who she’s meant to be when every person brings their gift to the table.

We talked honestly about prayer and fasting—not as religious accessories, but as lifelines. A prayerless life will feel powerless, discouraged, and cynical. But when we contend in prayer, especially in seasons of fasting, God purifies our desires, untangles our hearts, and entrusts us with real authority. I encouraged you to use tools that help, but to depend on God’s presence above any formula. I also shared how grief once hit me like rogue waves—how, in the darkest moments, all I could say was, “Oh God, help me.” Even there, praise is not denial; it’s defiance against despair. Mary’s song teaches us to glorify God in the moment we’re in, not after it’s over. He sees the humble, lifts the faint, and scatters the proud.

We considered Jesus’ names—Jesus (the Lord saves), Christ/Messiah (the Anointed One), Emmanuel (God with us)—and what that means in real life: God with us in suffering, forming us through it, not just delivering us from it. I challenged our young people—and all of us—to take inventory and discard what’s foolish so God can unveil the next chapter. Finally, I urged us to pray audacious prayers only God can answer, to be a family that carries one another, and to open wide to the true gift of Christmas: the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth, dwelling among us. If you don’t know Him, today is a good day to meet Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Humble obedience now, not later. Mary’s yes was not theoretical—it was immediate and total, even without full understanding. Obedience often precedes clarity; God provides the light for the next step as we take this one. Many of our frustrations are rooted in delayed obedience. Step in, and watch how grace meets movement. [43:53]
2. Every believer carries a needed gift. There really are no benchwarmers in the kingdom. The Spirit has placed a gift within you, not for storage but for service, to strengthen the whole body. When you withhold your gift, we all walk with a limp; when you offer it, we all advance. Develop it, deploy it, and watch the church flourish. [41:24]
3. Prayer and fasting are our lifeline. Without prayer, discouragement becomes a default setting and faith feels theoretical. Fasting clears room for God to reorder our desires and sharpen our hearing. Use guides if they help, but linger with God until you actually receive a word. Seasons of prayer and fasting realign us with His power and purposes. [51:41]
4. Praise God honestly in pain. Praise in grief is not pretending; it’s locating God in the dark and refusing to surrender hope. Like Mary’s song, honest worship steadies the soul and opens our eyes to God’s nearness. When the waves hit, breathe, cry out, and lift your hands anyway—His presence will hold you. [67:53]
5. Pray audacious, impossible prayers. The Mighty One delights to do what we cannot. Ask beyond your capacity—over your family, your prodigals, your future—and anchor it in His character. Bold prayers train our hearts to expect God’s activity, not our own ingenuity. Aim for requests that require a miracle and refuse to quit. [75:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:31] - Nothing is impossible with God
[41:24] - No insignificant people in God’s kingdom
[43:53] - Mary’s humble, immediate obedience
[49:23] - Owning failure without losing faith
[51:41] - Call to prayer and fasting
[53:57] - Pray Scripture; depend on God
[56:03] - Jesus Saves: His names and nature
[59:35] - Church family for the hardest days
[65:11] - From manger to the cross
[67:53] - Praising God in deep grief
[75:50] - The Mighty One does great things
[79:05] - Praying bold, impossible prayers
[83:54] - Approaching a holy God in worship
[90:45] - Mercy for those who fear Him

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Luke 1:26–38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Observation questions (3–4)

Read Luke 1:38 again. What does Mary’s phrase “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” reveal about her posture toward God? In what ways does this posture differ from delaying or arguing with God? [43:53]
Luke 1:37 says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Where in the annunciation narrative do we see that truth illustrated? Which part of that promise feels most urgent for you right now? [39:31]
In Luke 1:26–31 Mary moves from fear and confusion to a trusting question and then to consent. What words or details in the passage show that movement? Which moment in the story most helps you relate to Mary?

Interpretation questions (third person, objective)

How does immediate, humble obedience (Mary’s “let it be”) function as a catalyst for God’s work in a person’s life? What common barriers—pride, fear, needing full clarity—usually cause people to delay obedience? [43:53]
What does the claim “there are no insignificant people in God’s kingdom” imply about how spiritual gifts are distributed and used? How should that shape the church’s expectations for participation and responsibility? [41:24]
Why might prayer and fasting be described as lifelines rather than merely religious duties? What changes in a person’s desires, hearing, or authority when they enter a season of focused prayer and fasting? [51:41]
What theological or pastoral reasons explain why honest praise in the midst of grief is not denial but a spiritual practice? How does such praise reorient a person toward God’s presence in suffering? [01:07:53]

Application questions (specific and personal)

Identify one instruction or conviction you have been delaying. What would immediate, humble obedience to that look like this week? Who will you tell to hold you accountable? [43:53]
Make a short list of one or two spiritual gifts or strengths you recognize in yourself. How could you begin to develop and offer one of them to the church within the next 30 days? [41:24]
Choose one persistent struggle, habit, or desire you want God to change. Would you commit to a set period (for example, 24 hours or one day per week for two weeks) of prayer and fasting to seek God about it? What concrete steps will you take to keep that commitment? [51:41]
Name a recent moment of pain or loss. Write a brief, honest sentence of praise you could say in that moment (for example, “God, you are here; I need you now”). Practice using that sentence the next time the wave hits. [01:07:53]
Pray one audacious, “only God can do this” request for a family member, friend, or community need. Share it with the group and agree to pray for one another about it for the next four weeks. What would persistence look like in that prayer? [01:19:05]
List three people in the church you could realistically call at 3 a.m. if needed. If you don’t have three, choose one person to begin building a deeper pastoral friendship with this month—invite them for coffee, ask to pray together, or offer to serve alongside them. [59:35]

Use this time to listen to one another, pray together for the items above, and decide one concrete step each person will take before the next meeting.

Sermon Clips

How many families would be put back together? How many prodigals would come home? How many people that are drug addicted and under the bonds of alcoholism would be broken just simply because we spoke truth to them? And we showed them the way to go and we helped them and we prayed for them. Pray. And we prayed. Do you get prayer? It is such a powerful. If you don't pray. I can guarantee you a powerless Christian walk. I can guarantee a discouraged Christian walk. I can guarantee you'll be going around going, this stuff don't work. [00:47:47] (51 seconds) #PrayForRestoration

And I just checked guilty. But just because I didn't do it doesn't mean he's less than. That means I failed. It doesn't mean he failed. And there's a massive difference in that. And I've learned I'm human and I am going to miss it. Just like you. I'm not in this boat all by myself. We all in this thing. And if the boat's leaking, somebody needs to start bailing. That's why church is supposed to be a family. That's why we're supposed to be together. Because when one of us is on the fringes and one of us is off the rails, a couple of us can go grab them and pull them back. [00:50:21] (55 seconds) #ChurchFamilyFirst

See, one of the things we learned from this song is to praise God in the moment you're in, but pastor, you don't know. I got a pretty good idea. I know what it feels like to be in so much pain that you can't breathe. I know what it feels like. I know what it feels like to wake up in the morning and there's zero hope. And you look around at your family and everybody's devastated. I get it, but it's yet in that moment. It's in that moment that I'm going to tell you the only thing I could articulate when I was in that moment was, Oh God, Oh God, help me. [01:08:16] (62 seconds) #CryOutToGod

Oh God. That's the only thing that I could, I couldn't say anything else. I would fall into the floor in a heap. And the only thing I could say is, Oh God, help me. Oh God, I need you. Oh God, if you don't show up, if you don't show up, I don't know what's going to happen. Oh God. And you would ride that wave until it crashed on the beach and you would lay there and you would get your breath for a moment. And then another wave would ride in and hit you again. [01:09:15] (40 seconds) #HoldOnAndPray

And I learned on the worst day of my life to say, though he slay me, I will praise his name. And I had people look at me, thought I had lost my mind. But I'm going to tell you something. I had traveled with the Lord long enough to know that when you're in that place, that's the only thing that matters. His presence in my life is the only thing that matters. [01:11:12] (33 seconds) #PraiseInTheStorm

Praise God in the moment you're in. I know it may seem counterproductive for you. I know it may seem strange. I know you may not want to do anything. You might want to do anything but that, actually. But to stand back and say, Oh God, I don't understand all things, but you do. And I'm just going to lift my hands and I'm going to praise you anyway, because somehow you're going to lead me out of this. Somehow you're going to get me to the other side. Somehow this thing is going to make sense somewhere down the line. I don't know how or when, but God, I'm just going to trust you in it. [01:12:40] (40 seconds) #PraiseAndTrust

See, God sees you. Do you know that, beloved? God sees you right where you are, right in the struggle, right in all of the junk, that you're dealing with all the things, all the disappointments, all the tears that are cried in secret, all the things that you've whispered to God that nobody else heard. God heard. God heard it and God knows it. He sees you where you are. Don't think you've been forgotten because you're not. He knows you. [01:13:27] (33 seconds) #GodSeesYou

See, I know, I know how powerful God is because I've watched him in my own life and in the life of my family do things that only he could do. And see, I think that one of the things that we need to get better at doing is praying the impossible prayer. Praying something that is so far beyond our ability that only God can do it. And having the boldness to come to him and go, God, I know you are the mighty God. I know you are all powerful. I know that you know all things and can do all things. [01:17:51] (41 seconds) #PrayTheImpossible

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