The Virgin Mary accepts the blessings Archangel Gabriel reveals to her. Painting by Philippe de Champaigne
When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, some of the first words from the Archangel were, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Just as the Virgin Mary was a bit perplexed by Angel Gabriel’s greeting, are you perplexed by what the Lord has in store for your life? Are you afraid of the favor in which God wants to bestow on you? Are you afraid of failure or even success? What is holding you back from achieving God’s will in your life?
Don’t let those voices in your head stop you from God’s graces. “I will never be good enough,” you say. “You don’t know my past.” “I’m not strong enough.”
God has a whole storehouse of blessings for you just waiting to be tapped. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly,” Jesus said. (John 10:10). Don’t let Satan steal what God wants to do in your life.
But we have to do our part. First we have to accept God’s graces into our lives. We don’t have to do anything except to open our arms and accept the gift of grace. “If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:17) Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we have right standing with God and an abundance of grace. This is a gift; all we have to do is accept it.
And we have to show our faith, because faith without action/works is dead. “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.” (James 2:17–19). It’s time to release our faith, and by putting it in action we release God’s favor.
So what is holding you back? Stop making excuses, “For nothing will be impossible with God,” the Angel Gabriel said. (Luke 1:37)