Joel Osteen 23 December 2020 Daily Devotional – Highly Favored

Luke 1:26–28, NIV

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary didn’t come from an influential, wealthy family. In the natural, there was nothing special about her. When the angel, Gabriel, appeared to her and called her “highly favored,” I’m sure at first Mary thought, You have the wrong girl. I’m just average. It’s easy to talk yourself out of what God says about you. But God is saying the same thing to you. Gabriel then told her she was going to have a baby without knowing a man. Sometimes God puts promises in our heart that seem unlikely. That’s why Gabriel started off the conversation by telling Mary that she was highly favored. When you face a situation that seems impossible, you have to keep reminding yourself that you are highly favored.

A few verses later, it says that Mary was blessed because she believed that the Lord would do what He said. Whatever God has spoken to your heart, do as Mary did and say, “God, I believe. I’m highly favored.”

“Father, thank You for Your promise to Mary that she had found favor with You, and she would give birth to Your Son. Thank You that no word from You has ever failed. I believe that I am highly favored, and Your words to me will be fulfilled. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”