Day 1: Favored by God

Reading: Luke 1:26-33

Devotional: Mary was a young girl from an insignificant town, yet God called her "favored woman." Like Mary, you may feel inadequate or unqualified for what God is calling you to do. But favor isn't about your credentials—it's about God's purpose. You are His masterpiece, created with intention and chosen for a cause. Today, God is reminding you that despite your background, education, or past mistakes, you are favored for His work. The question isn't whether you're capable, but whether you'll believe God when He says you are chosen. Will you accept that you have found favor with God?

Day 2: When God Asks the Impossible

Reading: Luke 1:34-38

Devotional: "How can this be?" Mary asked a logical question about an impossible situation. God often calls us to things that don't make sense from a human perspective. Perhaps He's asking you to forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, to give when finances are tight, or to trust Him with a child who's wandered away. Mary's response teaches us that surrender means trusting God's power over our limitations. She didn't understand the how, but she believed the Who. What impossible thing is God asking of you today? Remember: "For the Word of God will never fail." Your surrender begins when you stop demanding explanations and start trusting His character.

Day 3: The Power of Encouragement

Reading: Luke 1:39-45

Devotional: When Mary needed confirmation, she went to Elizabeth—someone who would encourage her faith, not discourage her calling. Elizabeth's baby leaped for joy at Mary's greeting, and Elizabeth spoke life-giving words: "You are blessed because you believed." Surrendering to God's will requires surrounding yourself with people who will strengthen your resolve, not weaken it. Who are the Elizabeths in your life? Are you intentionally connecting with believers who will remind you that you're favored when you forget? Today, consider both who encourages your faith and who you might need to encourage. Sometimes God uses us to be the confirmation someone else desperately needs.

Day 4: Surrender Is a Lifestyle

Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Devotional: Mary's surrender wasn't just in that initial moment with Gabriel—it was a lifestyle that carried her through watching her Son die on a cross. Surrender isn't a one-time event; it's moments all the time. We often surrender something to God, then pick it back up when anxiety returns. Jesus modeled ultimate surrender, "not my will, but yours be done." What have you surrendered to God that you've quietly taken back? Your career? A relationship? A habit? A worry about your children? Today, identify what you're gripping tightly and release it again. Write it down. Speak it out loud: "I am the Lord's servant." Surrender becomes a lifestyle when we practice it daily, hourly, moment by moment.

Day 5: From Nazareth to Kingdom Impact

Reading: John 1:43-46; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Devotional: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Nathanael's skepticism mirrors what many think about themselves. You may come from brokenness, failure, or obscurity. But God specializes in using the unlikely. Noah found favor to save humanity through an ark; Mary found favor to bring the Savior into the world. What is your cause? Who is God calling you to point toward Him? Your past doesn't disqualify you—it positions you. God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Today, stop letting your "Nazareth" define your potential. You are exactly who God can use for your circumstance. Surrender your insecurities and step into the favor God has placed on your life. Your obedience could change someone's eternity.