Ask any shoe salesman. They would agree that we, as women, don’t really know what we want and we don’t always say what we really mean. We say we want those Donald J Pliner three-inch heels, but we want them to feel like Pumas, and we want to pay Payless prices for Nordstrom quality.

We say we want to do God’s will but not if it pushes us beyond our comfort zones. An observation from years of working with women is that women generally fall into two different groups when it comes to obeying God: The first group thinks God is “calling us to greatness,” and we try with all of our might to achieve greatness. Those of us in the second group diminish our abilities and nullify God’s power in our lives by unbelief.

The example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, offers us tremendous insight into hearing and obeying God. She demonstrated extraordinary faith through her absolute surrender to God’s marvelous plan.

RECEIVE GOD'S WORD
When an angel told Mary about God’s incredible plan for her life, she responded with these words: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). What Mary was saying was, “I belong to the Lord—body, soul and spirit—let it be as you say.” Her statement, as simple as it was, may be the greatest declaration of faith any woman has ever spoken.

Mary chose to receive what God was saying to her. Receiving is taking delivery or ownership of; it is embracing something. When you receive a gift, it becomes yours. For many of us, receiving good things, such as compliments, isn’t as easy as one might think. We tend to deflect compliments. Someone can say, “I like your shirt,” and we respond, “What, this old thing?” Mary did not deflect; rather, she accepted God’s plan and surrendered to His will.

To receive requires faith. We have to believe in the giver to receive. If a man in shabby clothes and worn-out shoes offered to give you a million dollars, you would probably doubt the giver’s ability and possibly offend the giver. God is giving out great gifts to women, but we’re looking at Him as though He were a homeless man wandering the streets of Dallas.

I admit I am the greatest offender. When God spoke to Robert and said: “Go start a church,” I was all in. I don’t have any doubt God wants to use other people, especially my husband. But when it comes to believing God wants to use me, I wrestle with that whole concept. I didn’t wake up one day thinking, “I want to lead a women’s ministry.” Instead, I was drafted. Robert was serving as a pastor at Shady Grove Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, when a decision was made that all the pastors’ wives would lead a small group. To my surprise, my group grew and kept multiplying, and before long, I was on staff as a pastor over small groups.

Years later, when Gateway launched our small groups, Robert came home and said, “I volunteered you to start our women’s small group ministry because you have experience.” I not only felt drafted; I was drafted!

Maybe you feel drafted to a marketplace ministry because you have to work for financial reasons. Or perhaps you feel drafted to motherhood because of the unexpected results of a pregnancy test. Whatever the case, by leaning into God’s plan, you will find your greatest joy. When you receive God’s word, there is favor. Elizabeth said to Mary, “You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what He said” (Luke 1:45).

Many times along the way, I have had to say, “Lord, I am Yours—body, soul and spirit—let it be as You say.” For you, this may actually be a daily surrender.

PROTECT GOD'S WORD
When Mary received the word from the angel, she went to the hill country with haste. Going to the hill country, and more specifically to Elizabeth’s home, was a strategic move. Elizabeth’s home provided a refuge from the windstorm of
words that would have most assuredly pelted Mary. We all know you can’t hide a pregnancy. At some point, the town of Nazareth would have been buzzing with Mary’s news. Mary’s visit provided more than just a refuge in that it gave her a
mentor and encourager in Elizabeth. Although she didn’t have all the answers, Elizabeth took Mary in. When God begins stirring a new word in our hearts, we must protect it by surrounding ourselves with women of faith. We must also
steward it. A mentor provides a wise resource and counsel to steward God’s precious gift to us.

It’s so interesting that Mary sought out a woman who had also received a word from God. Elizabeth was a perfect mentor for Mary. Not only did she have godly character, but there was a spark in her walk because she was living her own impossible dream story. Everything had changed in her life as a result of God’s word to her and her husband, Zacharias. After years of barrenness, she too was miraculously pregnant. And because God’s word always gives fresh meaning to life, Elizabeth became a life-giving woman.

Pink (Gateway Women) needs more Elizabeths—women who fill up and give out in ways that nourish themselves and give life to others. They know God, believe Him and live a faith-filled life. We need women who have experienced God’s divine touch to support and encourage other women that may be just a few steps behind in their walk. It’s a biblical mandate for older women to teach younger women.

BELIEVE GOD'S WORD
Mary also expected the impossible to be possible. Mary was not without a wavering moment. She asked, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” What Mary saw as a limitation was really a qualification. The angel encouraged her by reminding
her who the giver was. He said, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

A cartoon I saw recently depicts a fourth-grade boy standing toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose with his teacher. Behind them looms a blackboard covered with unfinished math problems. With rare perception, the boy says, “I’m not an underachiever; you’re an over-expecter.” We won’t be underachievers if we believe “with God, nothing is impossible.” God isn’t an overexpecter, because He knows the power we really have.

If we’re going to believe for the impossible, we have to stop assuming God can’t or won’t. Joshua didn’t assume the sun couldn’t stand still. Elisha didn’t assume that an iron ax head couldn’t f loat. Peter didn’t assume he couldn’t walk on water. Jesus didn’t assume that dead people couldn’t be raised to life again.

Faith believes the impossible will happen even before it happens. God calls us to believe that the impossible will take place even though we don’t see any current evidence. “I can’t” are the two most destructive words in Christianity. It
unveils the heart and mind that lacks the faith to believe, “with God, nothing is impossible.”

An invalid once said she would never escape from her prison of pain and weakness. “Oh, well,” she replied quickly, “there’s a lot of living to be found within your limitations if you don’t wear yourself out fighting them.” The doctor replied, “Young lady, I wish I could have you preach to about a hundred of my patients a year.” It reminds me of something Helen Keller also said along those same lines: “Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them, but do not let them master you.”

God is a God of the impossible. He uses our natural abilities for His supernatural glory. He parted the Red Sea, but He had a man hold up his arm. He allowed Peter to walk on water, but Peter had to first step out of the boat and walk. He
favored Mary with the conception of His beloved son, but Mary had to believe.

DEVOTE YOURSELF TO GOD'S WORD
Mary devoted herself—heart and soul—to God’s vision. To be all that God has called us to be, we too have to become invested with our heart and soul.

The only way to be devoted to the vision God has placed in our hearts is to love the source of the vision. Our ultimate goal is not the vision but rather the relationship with the Vision Giver. Out of love, Mary could say, “I belong to the Lord—body, soul and spirit—let it be unto me as You say.”

When we say, “I am Pink,” we are saying, “I belong to the Lord—body, soul and spirit—let it be unto me as You say.” Pink is a company of women devoted to pursuing a relationship with God and passionate about surrendering to His plan. We want to be women full of faith who make a difference.