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 A collective reflection on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love Saturday, December 7, 2024 |
| Supernatural Hope Luke 1:26-38 God sent his angel Gabriel to Mary, saying, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. Let’s be honest. If an angel came to me on behalf of God, I would be troubled! I would also be fearful that what is coming next might be punishment. If God had found favor in me, that would be a nice way of saying, “I have pity on you my sweet child.” Let me explain how I experience the supernatural. For as long as I can remember, and before I was following Jesus, I would get these ideas. They originated in my mind and landed in my gut (somewhat like cement). They could come from a dream that woke me up in the middle of the night, a nudge, or a creative swirl. I would then have conversations (in my mind) with the people involved or even create scenarios and consider all the twists and turns that might happen on this journey. As a believer, this is still true. But I know now the supernatural is the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Many years ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night. I was asked to reconcile with a family member. The circumstances were impossible! The logistics were a nightmare, my worst nightmare! I played out all the scenarios, conversations, outcomes, and logistics for the following weeks. I couldn’t sleep, anxiety was at its worst, and other relationships seemed to be falling apart. When I asked for time off from work, I was denied and was instead let go. In the midst of hardship, with shaky knees, I remained confident that this nudge was from God through his Spirit, and I proceeded to walk it out. It was not easy, but Jesus was in it. Mary’s response strengthened me then, as it does today. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Is there a current nudge, dream, or thought in your life? Can you share it with a believer, maybe someone further along on their faith journey than you are? By Jeanine Frost PRAYER FOR TODAY God, I pray that we will be obedient to your word, awakened to your presence, and bold in following through on what you ask of us. You never ask us because you think we are qualified, competent, or experienced. You ask us because you are. |
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