Luke 1:26-38 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 with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

God’s favor is a gift. We don’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. (see Ephesians 2:8)

If you don’t believe, doubt, or question God wants to give you favor don’t expect to receive it. (see James 4:6-7)

How to find the favor of the Lord.
1. Surrender to the Lord’s will.
2. Submit to the Lord’s word.

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Luke 9:23-24 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”