Monday 3 December 2012

We're almost there....don't give up now


How time flies. I still remember January 01 2012, and now it’s December 03 2012. Praise God!!! When i think about how far He’s brought me, how different the girl who sits here typing is from the girl who saw January 1st, i really can’t help but praise Him. The year started off slow, but in the blink of an eye went into overdrive towards the middle of the year, like it was trying to make up for my slacking off in its first few months – and now its December, the month of fruition.

A lot of us started the year with promises and prophesies, and those that didn’t picked them up as the months rolled by. Whichever category you fall into, you are now at the final stretch and your thoughts are probably running wild either because of impatience or because it doesn’t look like anything is going to happen anytime soon - Will He? When will He? How will He? For many of us this is indeed the 9th month. We’ve been nursing our promises so far and are just about ready to give birth. I’d like to encourage you not to lose hope at this final lap. Oh the enemy will try, but remember that you are more than a conqueror. DO NOT let him steal your victory.

This devotional from “Power to change” encouraged me; I hope it does the same for you too.



The Ninth Month

“And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!’” (Luke 1:28, The Amplified Bible)

Several theologians refer to something called our “baptized imaginations”. Simply put, it is described as allowing God’s Spirit to enliven the way we think about truth. There is no doubt that we believe in the virgin birth of Christ. But when we encourage our “baptized imaginations” to dwell on the realities of Mary’s pregnancy, we can imagine her ninth month of pregnancy.

Although called a “favored one,” Mary did not escape the difficulties of that month. Women who have experienced pregnancy know that physical exhaustion is a certainty in that final month. While going to the grocery store is difficult for modern women, think what it was like to carry water from the well in a stone jar. Backaches become 24-hour ordeals. One website encourages women to pamper themselves during this month. That was not culturally possible or practically available for Mary.

So how did she do it? And what can we learn from her? The most obvious answer is found in Mary’s response to Gabriel’s astonishing announcement: “Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.” (Luke 1:38) In his Message paraphrase, Eugene Peterson writes it thus: “I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. ?Let it be with me just as you say.”

Whether men or women, we all go through “ninth months.” Sometimes they are physical, but more often they are spiritual or emotional. We suspect that something good is coming, but it hasn’t arrived. We may wonder how God will accomplish His will, but we cling to His promises.

Let this be our daily prayer through ninth month experiences, “Lord, I am yours. I am ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Amen.”


Related articles: The hardest part of faith


Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment