An attitude of submission

Merry Christmas!! With Christmas just a little under 2 weeks out, I hope you are all enjoying the season! Today I want to look at Mary, the mother of Jesus.  You see I think she is an awesome example of submission to God's plan.  She was sold out, friends, totally surrendered and happy to do anything God asked of her.  It is so cool to think about being the mother of Jesus! But wait...it wasn't quite that easy. You see God chose her because she was a virgin, but getting pregnant before marriage was a huge deal especially in her day.  Even though the pregnancy was completely virgin because God's Spirit put the baby inside of Mary's womb, people would not understand that.  She would be looked down upon.  Mary was engaged, preparing to get married.  Can you imagine? Mary's response to the angel when the angel came to tell her she would be the mother of baby Jesus is astounding! She responds with, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38 WOW! Are you and I that sold out...that willing to do ANYTHING God wants from us? Could we respond with basically saying, I am your servant, let your will be done?! What a testimony! And God chose a girl with that spirit and that attitude to be the mother of His SON! So cool...if we are willing to do anything for God, He will use us in a big way.  Yes, it's hard to trust God at all times, but He is worthy.  I love Mary's response to this situation that God placed in her life.  She was used in a huge way for God's glory! Let's be encouraged to trust God and His glorious plan for our lives! Remember that being sold out for God is the safest place to be! A verse that I think pairs well with this is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  This verse tells us that we are not our own after we accept and ask for God to be our Saviour.  We are God's, to be used by Him and for Him in whatever way He plans.  Mary was a perfect example of being willing to be used by God in any way He wanted to use her! Are you willing? Are you being a Mary?