Here I Am

“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38)

         I can remember in school that each day the teacher would take attendance.  It usually involved the teacher calling out the names of the students on their roll and the students responding, “here” or “present.”  Your response let the teacher know you were where you were supposed be as a new school day began.  

         After Mary hears the angel messenger speak for God, she responds, “Here I am.”  Even with all her doubts and fears, Mary would be present to Gods’ plan for her life.  She would not try to skip out on God’s agenda, but she would step out in faith and begin this incredible journey.  Hence Mary not only says, “here I am,” but she also states, “let it be with me according to your word.”  Mary would make herself available to be used by God in God’s plan to save the world.  Her life would now be led and shaped by God’s word.

         Trying to figure out God’s will for our lives means making ourselves present to God and willing to follow God’s word in our lives.  As individuals and as the church, we begin our journey with God by simply confessing, “here.”  We show up; we become present to God.  Then we surrender our wills over to God and commit to living out God’s will.  This is not an easy step to make.  There can be a lot of inner struggling between saying “here” and “let it be.”  However, like Mary, we can trust that the God we become present to will always be present with us.  God’s presence gives us the courage to surrender to God’s will and to trust God for the journey ahead.

Prayer:  Here I am, Lord. Send me.