Tag Archives: God’s Power

Advent

Favored and Chosen by God

Beloved, you are Favored and Chosen by God.

The message of God’s grace shines brightly in the words spoken to Mary by the angel Gabriel: “Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28 AMP). This greeting reveals not only Mary’s unique role in God’s redemptive plan but also the vast and immeasurable favor of God that reaches down to all who respond to His call. Favored and Chosen by God, let your heart not only hear these words but receive them deeply, for they echo God’s invitation to you today.

Mary’s story shows us the profound truth that God’s favor is not for the mighty, the wealthy, or the perfect—it is for the humble, the willing, and the faithful. Mary, an unassuming young woman from an obscure town, was chosen not for her greatness but because her heart was yielded to God. As one commentator notes, “Grace finds us, not because we are worthy, but because He is good.” The favor of God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, the lowly into the beloved.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace [free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness] with God” (Luke 1:30 AMP). These words echo through the centuries to you. Favored and Chosen by God, the same grace that called Mary to bear the Savior now calls you to receive Him. This grace is a gift, freely given by God, unearned and unmeasured. As the Apostle John declared, “For of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:16 AMP).

Mary was troubled and confused at the angel’s greeting, much like we may feel when God calls us to step into His purposes. But her story reminds us that God’s call is never about our ability—it is about His sufficiency. He equips those He calls, and His presence is the guarantee of His promise. As another commentator observes, “The assurance, ‘The Lord is with you,’ is the foundation of courage, the source of peace, and the promise of power.”

Beloved, do not let fear or doubt hold you back. The favor of God rests on you, not because of who you are, but because of who He is. The same God who chose Mary now chooses you. He calls you to bear His life within you, to reflect His light in a dark world, and to walk in the fullness of His grace. Will you say yes to Him? Remember, you are Favored and Chosen by God.

Let the words of Mary’s surrender become the cry of your heart: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38 AMP). This is the response of faith, the surrender of a heart that trusts fully in the goodness of God.

Reflect deeply on this truth: God’s grace does not find you where you think you ought to be but where you truly are. Just as He stepped into Mary’s humble life, He steps into yours. Matthew Henry’s commentary reminds us, “Those that God designs for the greatest honors are commonly the most humble and least ambitious.” It is not your perfection He seeks, but your willingness to trust Him.

Let me urge you, dear one, to answer His call today. The Lord is with you, and His favor rests upon you. Will you receive this grace and allow Him to transform your life? Remember, you are Favored and Chosen by God.

Pray this with me:

Heavenly Father, Your grace is overwhelming and unearned, yet You offer it freely. I come to You with a heart that is willing but weak. Strengthen me by Your Spirit, and let Your favor rest upon me. I surrender to Your call and ask that You would use my life for Your glory. Lord, may it be done to me according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now go, beloved, as one favored by God. Walk in His grace, trust in His promises, and surrender to His call. For His love has chosen you, and His Spirit will lead you into the fullness of His plan. Let your heart echo the Apostle John’s words: “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 AMP). Amen.

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Faith

Unleashing faith

The world has taught us to see limits where God sees none. We need to unlearn what the world calls “impossible” and instead embrace the truth of God’s power.

Wednesday, while I was in the shower, water poured down over two bottles on a shelf—one shampoo, one conditioner. Without my glasses, I couldn’t read the labels, and the water distorted my vision. Instinctively, I reached out to push the water aside, as though it were a curtain I could move. Just before my hand reached it, I realized: water doesn’t work that way. But in that moment, a truth struck me—this is the kind of faith God calls us to. A faith so sure, so unshaken by doubt, that we act in bold belief. I feel if I had just pushed through with my faith it would have moved.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 AMP). God invites us to believe in Him beyond what we see or understand. He asks for a faith that trusts His Word completely—without hesitation, without fear.

Yet, how often do we falter? Like Peter walking on water, we begin with bold steps but falter when doubt creeps in. We let what the world calls “impossible” limit our belief in what God can do. But the truth remains: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 AMP). It is not our strength but God’s power that makes miracles happen.

Let this story remind us to trust God fully. To push past doubt and hold tightly to His promises. Faith calls us to live in bold expectation, knowing that with God, there are no limits.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, we confess that too often we let the world shape our faith instead of Your truth. Help us to unlearn the lies of impossibility and embrace the limitless power of Your Word. Strengthen our faith to act without doubt, to trust You completely, and to believe that all things are possible through You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go Deeper

The Pursuit

Press In and Seek the Lord’s Presence

Beloved, there is a longing within the heart of every believer—a desire to go beyond the surface and press into the depths of God’s presence. This is not a shallow pursuit; it is a holy hunger that drives us to seek Him with all we are. Scripture calls us to this pursuit: “Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity], and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, AMP). We must press in and seek the Lord’s presence every day.

Think of Paul and Silas, beaten and chained in a dark prison. They did not focus on their pain or despair; instead, they lifted their voices in prayer and worship. “But about midnight when Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God… suddenly there was a great earthquake, so [powerful] that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened” (Acts 16:25-26, AMP). When they pressed into God through prayer and worship, heaven responded. This is the power of pursuing and seeking the Lord’s presence with your whole heart—chains break, walls fall, and freedom comes.

In your own life, this same invitation stands. Go deeper in your prayers. Press further in your worship. Seek harder, not because God is far away, but because He is drawing you closer. Let your heart echo the psalmist: “As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, so my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God” (Psalm 42:1, AMP). Such longing is not born of duty but of love, a recognition that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Therefore, press in and seek the Lord’s presence with dedication.

Each day brings new challenges, and with them, a deeper need for His presence. Yesterday’s touch will not sustain you today. “It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, AMP). His faithfulness is steady, and His presence is ever-available, but He invites us to press in, to seek Him with greater urgency, for there is always more of Him to discover.

This pressing in is not about striving but about surrender. It is about letting go of distractions and setting your heart fully on Him. Prayer becomes the language of your dependence, and worship becomes the expression of your love. Together, prayer and worship create a sacred space where God moves powerfully. When we combine our petitions with praise, we are transformed. “And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18, AMP). Thus, we press in and seek the Lord’s presence.

To press in is to recognize that God is not finished with you. He is constantly calling you higher, challenging you to leave behind complacency and step into the fullness of His purpose. “I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14, AMP). This upward call is not a one-time event; it is a daily journey, one that requires perseverance and passion.

Imagine the freedom and breakthrough that come when you press into Him fully. Chains fall, fears dissolve, and the glory of God fills the space where worship rises. He does not withhold Himself from those who seek Him; rather, He delights in meeting them in their pursuit.

Prayer for Deeper Hunger and Breakthrough

Lord, we come to You with open hearts, longing to go deeper into Your presence. Teach us to press in with prayer and worship, knowing that You are faithful to respond. We desire more of You, Lord—more of Your presence, more of Your power, more of Your transforming love.

Break every chain that holds us back, every distraction that keeps us from seeking You with all our hearts. Just as You met Paul and Silas in their midnight hour, meet us in ours. Shake the foundations of our lives, open the doors we cannot open, and lead us into the freedom only You can give.

Father, let us hunger and thirst for You like never before. May our prayers and worship be the evidence of our dependence on You and our love for You. Transform us, Lord, from glory to glory, making us more like Jesus every day. Let us not be satisfied with yesterday’s touch but draw us closer, moment by moment, into the fullness of Your presence. Press in and seek the Lord’s presence continually.

We surrender to You, Lord. Take us higher. Take us deeper. Fill us until our lives overflow with Your glory. We love You, we seek You, and we press in for more of You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

See Also

Faith

Unsearchable Greatness of God’s Mercy and Breath of Life

Beloved, be stirred to rise higher, to leave behind the fleeting shadows of this world, and press deeply into the presence of God, whose greatness is unsearchable, and whose mercy knows no end. As Job once declared, awestruck by God’s might, “He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number” (Job 5:9, AMP). The psalmist joins this praise, declaring, “Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is so vast and profound as to be unsearchable [incomprehensible to man]” (Psalm 145:3, AMP). You are invited to seek Him with all your heart, for though His ways are vast, He reveals Himself to those who draw near. Stand in awe of the depths of God, for He is infinitely worthy of your devotion.

The Breath of God: Sustaining and Life-Giving

The breath of God is not simply the source of life; it sustains all that lives and moves within creation. From the beginning, His breath brought forth life itself, as the Scriptures declare, “Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit]” (Genesis 2:7, AMP). This very breath sustains you; it fills each heartbeat and moves within each moment, a continual reminder of His presence. Leave behind all that is fleeting and draw near to what is eternal and true, for in His breath you will find strength and purpose, clarity and peace.

This breath is not only gentle but powerful, mighty to revive what has been lost and to call life forth from what appears dead. Ezekiel witnessed this mystery in the valley of dry bones, where God commanded, “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life’” (Ezekiel 37:5, AMP). The breath of God transforms desolation into life, bringing hope to the broken and strength to the weary. Just as His breath raised those bones to life, His Spirit moves within you, bringing renewal, calling you higher, and urging you toward a life marked by purity, faith, and love.

The Unsearchable Depth of God’s Mercy

Beloved, take comfort in the steadfast mercy of God. His compassion does not fail; His mercies are new every morning. Even in times of trial and hardship, His love endures, unchanging and ever-faithful. As the prophet wrote, “It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23, AMP). God’s mercy invites us to let go of everything that binds us to the world, to leave behind the weight of past burdens, and to press fully into His presence. In His mercy, there is freedom, for He remembers our frailty and calls us gently toward Him.

This mercy is a constant invitation—a beckoning to draw closer, to exchange what is temporary for what is eternal. Consider how David prayed for a pure heart and steadfast spirit, a prayer that resonates with every soul desiring God above all else: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, AMP). God’s mercy cleanses, renews, and draws you upward to a place of deeper faith and devotion. Leave behind the distractions that pull you away and focus solely on the One who is worthy.

Called to Purity, Faith, and Devotion

Let God’s breath within you ignite a holy desire for purity and unblemished service. In every season, He is the source of strength and the wellspring of hope. Paul reminds us, “He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25, AMP). There is no strength apart from Him, and there is no purpose outside of His will. His breath fills you with holy purpose, enabling you to serve with unwavering faith and to love with a pure heart. In His presence, worldly concerns fade, and you are empowered to stand firmly on the path of righteousness.

Every breath you take is an invitation to live for His glory, to let go of self-centered pursuits, and to seek the things of God. As Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you also” (Matthew 6:33, AMP). Your life is meant to reflect His light and love, a beacon to others who also seek Him. Let your spirit press into the eternal, and let your heart be fully captivated by His holiness.

Embracing the Unsearchable God Who Holds All Things

Beloved, embrace this truth: God’s greatness is unsearchable, His breath sustains you, and His mercy calls you higher. Let your life become a reflection of His holiness, a vessel of His boundless love, and a testimony of His faithfulness. Draw near to Him with every breath, and let His Spirit renew and transform you, guiding you into a life of unwavering faith, unblemished devotion, and love for the Creator of all. In His presence, every need is met, every question finds peace, and every step leads you closer to the heart of God.

Stand in awe of His ways, trust in His mercy, and walk humbly before the One who holds all things. In His breath, you are made whole, renewed, and eternally loved, called to a life that glorifies Him with purity, devotion, and a steadfast spirit. Seek Him with all your heart, for He is worthy of all that you are and all that you will ever be.

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