When We Say Yes To God

As we rapidly approach the birth of Christ, I can't help but think about Mary and her unselfish willingness to accept and bear God's child. Mary said to the angel Gabriel, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word." In that one moment she risked everything in her life that she considered significant, or of value.

Let's take one moment and think about the burden Mary took on when she said 'yes' to God. She risked losing and humiliating Joseph; she risked being cast out of her community for infidelity; she risked disgracing herself and family; she risked her dignity, honor and integrity; all because she responded to God by saying, "Yes, let it be with me according to your will."

Are we willing to take such risks in our lives in the name of Christ? Are we willing to put God first and trust God's divine will and actions? Or do we timidly hide behind the cloak of fear and doubt, afraid to risk failure and the cruel ridicule of others? These are not easy questions to answer, especially if we take a sincere look deep inside ourselves. Doubt seems to always lurk in the dark recesses of our hearts. There is often a cloud of anxiety that shrouds our spirits when we are called by God to step outside of our comfort zones.

Maybe we find ourselves called to work with the poor, the homeless and destitute - people that we may not normally associate with in our daily existence. Perhaps our relationship with Christ is one that becomes evangelical, inviting people to church who may come from a different social-economic or racial background. When we say 'yes' to God we may risk losing friends who feel threatened by that relationship. Maybe we get shunned by family members who don't understand or approve of our relationship with God. Perhaps we are called to mission and have to leave behind our life as we know it, and make the required sacrifices it takes to serve Jesus Christ. Maybe the 'yes' is something as simple as daily prayer, or going to Alcoholics Anonymous in order to overcome harmful behavior. A 'yes' to God always involves the revelation that we must learn to be more giving and less selfish. Saying 'yes' to God as Mary discovered is a revolutionary act. That one word ( a simple 'yes')has a life altering and transforming affect on lives and spirits. Why? Because once we respond to God by saying 'yes' to God's will for us, it is difficult to go back to the life we led before. It is similar to a person who works hard to become sober through AA, and then decides to begin drinking alcohol again - "A belly full of AA really messes up your drinking" it is never the same after that encounter. The same is true with God. Once we experience a heart full of God it messes up our justification to live a life without God. Our lives have experienced a 'revolutionary' message of love and acceptance that transcends this world and its emphasis on instant gratification.

As I travel this long spiritual journey of faith, I have found that my relationship with Christ becomes more and more important each day. This ongoing and ever maturing relationship allows me to more easily and willingly surrender my life to Christ. After all if we don't surrender our will and life to God, how can God initiate conversation and build a relationship with us? What I find through this sweet surrender is nothing less than total victory in life. You see, the more I become willing to step out in faith, taking the necessary risks, the less I worry about myself and the judgment of others.

Mary gives us such a beautiful example of what it means to say 'yes' to God. We know that we have grown in a deeper more fulfilling relationship with Christ when self-denial supersedes self-preservation. The journey begins with the words of radical revolution and revelation: "Yes God, let it be with me according to your will."