A Bowed Heart
Luke 1:30-38 “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, 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 nam Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High…”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 Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
POSTURE – **A state or condition at a given time especially with respect to capability in particular circumstances.
**A conscious mental or outward behavioral attitude.
During this Christmas season…. Every Christ follower should ponder the “posture” of their heart. What’s the condition of my heart in respect to the circumstances I am walking through? What’s my outward behavioral attitude? What’s the state of my emotions (that we typically wear on the outside)? How do I enter into this next season (good or bad) of my journey? As I read this awe inspiring passage, I can’t help but ask myself ….. Is my posture toward my Savior like Mary’s, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”? Mary didn’t give a litany of excuses to Gabriel of why she couldn’t fulfill God’s plan. She didn’t go into a tail spin over what a he had just announced. Instead, Mary’s heart POSTURE positioned and readied her for the fulfillment of the Most High’s plan. Wow! I’m inspired!! Mary simply made the decision to TRUST God and let God unfold His great plan through her. Mary’s POSTURE was a “bowed heart” a “surrendered heart”!! Each day is a brand new opportunity to reposition our hearts/focus. That alone is a gift. I have a pillow I bought a few years back and I see it every morning (positioned on purpose in my main living space) that says “Good Days start with coffee and JESUS”. Now, we all know that not all days end up so “good”….but we aren’t talking about the circumstances of life. We are talking about the POSTURE WE DECIDE to take!!! We can take up anxiety, worry, ugly thoughts, pouting, OR we can take up HIS PEACE He so generously offers us. When we have His Peace and Grace to journey (sometimes plow) through each day we begin to recognize WE LACK NOTHING WHEN JESUS IS OUR GREATEST TREASURE!! A “posture of heart”!! Interestingly, as we read further into the passage Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, verses 48 and 49 reminds us of her humanity (and posture of heart). “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant (a conscious outward behavioral attitude); for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” (a condition of heart with respect to capability in particular circumstances.)
Ya see guys…. WE ALL have been assigned God-given plans and if we will position ourselves with the right condition of the heart (Trust in Him) and the right outward behavioral attitude….”according to your word”, we then find ourselves ready to receive all that God has intended for us!!
ASK YOURSELF THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON…..IS MY LIFE REFLECTING A BOWED AND SURRENDERED HEART??
**SELAH**
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
