🙏 Mary: Faith Over Fear

Good Morning. The most repeated command in the Bible is not “love one another” or even “pray.” It is “do not be afraid.” God knows fear can hold us back, which is why the story of Mary and Luke 1 is such a powerful reminder.

📖 Verse Of The Day

🧠 Devotion

When we read the story of Mary, it is easy to forget how young and ordinary she really was. Most historians believe she was likely a teenager, living a quiet life in a small village. She had plans like any of us: marriage, family, and a simple future she could understand. Then everything changed. An angel appeared with a message so overwhelming that fear was her first natural response. Who would not be afraid?

The angel’s first words to Mary were not about the miracle itself. They were about her heart: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” Before she could grasp what God was going to do, she needed to know that His favor was already on her life.

Fear thrives in the unknown. It whispers all the “what ifs” and plays out the worst-case scenarios. Mary had plenty of reasons to give in to fear. What would Joseph think? Would her community shame her? Was she capable of such a calling? Instead of letting fear define her response, Mary chose faith. Her answer in Luke 1:38 is one of the most courageous in all of Scripture: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Faith over fear does not mean we never feel afraid. It means we do not let fear make the final decision. Faith is trusting that God’s favor and presence are greater than our uncertainty. Mary did not have a full picture of the path ahead, but she trusted the One who was leading her. Because of that trust, God used her life to bring Jesus into the world.

This story reminds us that our ordinary lives can carry extraordinary impact when surrendered to God. Like Mary, we may feel unqualified, unprepared, or overwhelmed by what God is asking of us. But His favor rests on those who trust Him. The same God who chose Mary is still choosing people today to carry His presence into the world in our families, workplaces, and communities.

Think about the places in your life where fear has been loud. Maybe it is a step of obedience you have been hesitant to take, a conversation you have been putting off, or a dream you feel too small to pursue. What if God is whispering the same words to you that He spoke to Mary? “Do not be afraid. My favor is with you.”

Mary’s story is not just about a miraculous birth. It is about a young woman who chose to trust God’s favor more than her own fear. That choice changed the world.

🙏 Prayer (Guided by ACTS)

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Lord, You are faithful and mighty. You calm fears and speak peace into the unknown.
Confession: I confess that too often i let feat guide me instead of trusting Your promises. Forgive me for the time I have doubted Your plans.
Thanksgiving: Thank You for Mary’s example of courage and for reminding me that Your favor rests on those who trust You. Thank you that I never face life’s uncertainty’s alone.
Supplication: Give me strength to choose faith over fear today. Fill me with courage to obey You, even when I do not see the full picture. Help me to rest in the truth that Your presence goes with me whenever I go.