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Published: Nov. 1, 2018, 1 a.m.

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When a person takes their walk with Jesus seriously and they truly begin to believe, \u201cI am a son or daughter of God and I am going to live like it", they set themselves against the powers of darkness and they set themselves apart from everyone around them except those who have made the same choice.

At that point you have set yourself apart exclusively for God\u2019s use.

That is what the Apostle Paul was describing when he wrote to the believers in Rome.

\u201cI beseech you, therefore brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that and acceptable and perfect will of God\u201d (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV).

Mary of Nazareth had a similar experience when God asked her dedicate her body exclusively for His use.

The angel Gabriel was \u201csent by God to a city of Galilee name Nazareth.\u201d

Gabriel\u2019s greeting startled Mary, just as it would you and me. "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" (Luke 1:28 NKJV)

She had found favor with God.

Have You Had a Mary Experience?

Mary was just an ordinary young woman living in a small village on the side of a mountain, in Galilee, overlooking the Jezreel Valley. There was nothing she did to earn or to deserve this honor.

God chose Mary and gave her favor, the same as He chose the Patriarch Abraham and gave him favor.

• Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.
• God chose Mary and gave her favor. She believed God and it was counted to her for righteousness.

God has chosen you and given you favor.

\u201c[J]ust as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace\u201d (Ephesians 1:4-7 NKJV).

Why would God choose you?

The Scripture explains, \u201caccording to the good pleasure of His will.\u201d

• You didn\u2019t earn it.
• You certainly don\u2019t deserve it.
• God chose you because He loves you and because He wanted to choose you.

He chose you to be holy, without condemnation and to be in a face to face relationship with Him. He made you acceptable and gave you favor by redeeming you from the slave market of sin and adopting you into His family as a son or daughter.

\u201cRejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you\u2026\u201d

Mary and Joseph had to wrestle with many things when they began walking this out. Just like you have to wrestle with many things when you make the decision in your life to live authentically sold out as a child of God.

If Gabriel\u2019s greeting startled Mary, his message must have flooded her with anxiety. "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS\u201d (Luke 1:30-31 N