From Barrenness to Birth

This Christmas season I have been to two different churches, and heard two messages on the same topic. Only to come home and read an article on the same message, and then to hear it again for the fourth time. Have you ever had the Lord speak to you in such an obvious way? He is definitely trying to get my attention. Each message brings the same stirring in my spirit that God is wanting to teach me something BIG so I can move from this place I'm at, to a higher level in my walk with Him.

So what's the message? It's the story of Elizabeth going from barrenness to being the mother of John the Baptist. It's also the story of Mary being a virgin and becoming pregnant with the Son of God. Without going through the stories, let me point out that both women were given a promise, both women believed the Word and both women received the blessing of the thing that was promised, the birth of a child. While one was barren and had waited a very long time, and the other was young, these two ladies had one BIG thing in common...they were both willing to accept that God can do the impossible.

Our Pastor pointed out in his sermon that it doesn't matter how long you've been barren & waiting on God to fulfill a promise, He has heard your prayers, and He's still at work. It was important to point out that barrenness was considered a punishment from God back in those days. It came with great shame & disgrace. It's easy to think that when God tarries concerning our prayers or a promise, that we have sinned or failed in some way. The enemy comes to deceive us into thinking that God has passed us by. But he said that often times, the answer is delayed because God's timing is waiting on something bigger than just our prayer. In Elizabeth's case, God was waiting for Mary to reach a certain age, so that John the Baptist would be the forerunner for Jesus. It's easy to see in hindsight, much harder to recognize when you're in the midst of a trial and you're waiting for your break through.

Or maybe you're young and like Mary, you don't have a clue what destiny lies ahead of you, but you're a willing vessel. The key to going from barrenness to birthing something great for the Lord's glory is found in Luke 1:34-35 when Mary said to the angel "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" "And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'" Our Pastor said we all need the power of the Most High to overshadow us and plant the seed of destiny, so that we will give birth to God's will for our lives.

This Christmas season, I am praying that every area of my life that is barren and unfruitful, that the Holy Spirit will overshadow me and plant the seed of destiny. Then I will guard and ponder it, like Mary did, and I will be obedient to the very end, until I receive the birth of God's ultimate will for me.

Merry Christmas to all my bloggy friends! I pray it will be a blessed & peaceful time with family & friends.