Weekly Practice 5/11/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scriptures
Luke 1:26-38 NLT
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”
Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Acts 1:14 NLT
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Practice
Say “Yes”
Mary knew what saying “yes” to God meant. When told she has been handpicked to be the Messiah’s mom, she assents: “I’m God’s servant. Bring it on.” And here she is after the ascent of her son, still saying “yes” to his Kingdom Come. It’s hard to imagine another individual who has had their life so thoroughly defined by their “yes” to God.
This week, be like Mary. Say “yes” to God. As you’ve spent time in examen prayer this last week, what have you noticed about your life? Your soul? Do you sense God inviting you to anything? Something to take up? Something to lay down? Something to return to? If you need to spend more time listening, do it. Leaning towards God, wherever you are, is a “yes.”
Accompanying soundtrack
These songs by Jess Ray are perfect for this week:
