Lord, You want me to do WHAT?

 I’m supposed to wait until I’m really hungry to eat? I’m supposed to stop when I am no longer hungry?

REALLY??

BUT…..

• There’s a special Christmas dessert at work.
• I’m at a Christmas party and HAVE to eat!
• I have a family gathering and Aunt Betsy expects me to always have two platefuls!
• I’m making Christmas cookies and have to taste the dough (several times)….oh it’s so good!

BUT………BUT…………..Lord………………IT’S CHRISTMAS!!!!

I groan…..I cry….I plead….I yell….

“SOMETIMES THIS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE!”

~~~breath in.~~~ breath out.~~~ breath in.~~~ breath out.~~~

When I calm down and take time to pray, I am reminded that it’s ok. God is ok with me throwing my tantrum because I am coming to Him. I am expressing my emotions and not stuffing them.  I am not turning to food for comfort. I am talking to Him, even if it might be yelling at times.

It is then, in the quietness of my soul, the Lord gently reminds me that HE came to give me more.  He came to give me life.  He came as a baby in a dirty cow stall to give me peace.  And hope. And joy.  And completion in Him.

I am reminded how God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary when she was just a teenager to tell her that she was going to have a baby.

Not just any baby, mind you, but the SON OF GOD! Yes….not only that but she had not even been with a man.  Oh and more….she was engaged to a man who could accuse her of having an adulterous affair.  A stonable offence in that time.

I’m sure she thought that it was an impossible situation.  She could have given a lot of excuses when Gabriel came to her why she wasn’t worthy.  I’m sure she may have thought of some reasons why she was unable to have this baby.  I’m sure she thought it was going to be hard.  I’m sure she was scared.

In Luke’s gospel it states that she was “confused and disturbed” (Luke 1:29 NLT) or she was “thoroughly shaken” (MSG) when Gabriel came to her.  What was the angel’s response to her?  Did he say “you should not be disturbed”? or “Woe to you for being confused”?

No. Read his response:

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!”

Luke 1:30

And God reminds me in a whisper to my heart. “Don’t be afraid as you follow my boundaries for you through this difficult time of year, for you have found favor with God, my daughter!”

Just as the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary and told her how God would transform her life by bringing Jesus through her, God whispers to us that He will transform our lives as we also follow Him.

Mary was willing to step out in faith and follow God through what must have been one of the most difficult times in her life. She faced ridicule, shame and possible stoning. Yet she said to Gabriel

“I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said”

Luke 1:38

Mary was facing an impossible situation.  Although it may seem like eating 0-5 is trivial compared to what Mary went through, our heart’s response is just as critical as hers.  Our situation is just as important to the Lord as Mary’s was back then. And our impossible situations are POSSIBLE through HIM.

“Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) This is what the angel told Mary.

So it is with us.  Whatever challenges you might be facing this Christmas, remember that God is right there with You to give you the strength and guidance you need.

That little baby born long ago came so we can be FREE today!  He came so we can have life abundant in Him.

Jesus calls us forth to follow Him in everything we do.  Let’s GO!

“Let us run our race marked out for us as we keep our eyes on Jesus”

Hebrews 12:1-2

How about you? Are you ready to follow Jesus with your eating?  Are you willing to trust that God is with you and will help you in this?

YOU have found favor with God!