Observations on Thankfulness

This morning, I was reading Luke 1:39-45. Here, the story picks up with Elizabeth who is pregnant 6 months with John the Baptist. In this passage, she meets Mary who is already pregnant with Jesus.

Two things I noticed about Elizabeth in this passage.

One, in verse 43, Elizabeth says, "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

Notice her humility. Notice how overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness that she has at getting this opportunity.

That said, Elizabeth knows her place before God. She knows herself in relationship to God. She knows she's not worthy to be chosen for this, and her only response is one filled with joy and thankfulness.

Two, in verse 45, Elizabeth blesses Mary for believing in what was told to her from the Lord. She blesses Mary for her faith. Notice Elizabeth was able to bless Mary out of the abundance of thankfulness of her own heart towards God.

Elizabeth knew God.
She knew herself in relationship to God.
She knew she was unworthy - yet - responded (not with shame, guilt, or despondency) with thankfulness and joy.
Elizabeth was filled up with God and what He had done for her.

Then, and only then, was Elizabeth positioned to bless Mary.

Our words come from our hearts. When our hearts are filled up with a right view of God, Godly responses and natural blessing to others flows out.

Elizabeth could have gone so many different ways in this account. She could have felt prideful like she earned the right to carry John the Baptist or entitled like she deserved it. She could have even forfeited her own joy and thankfulness and exchanged it for jealousy of Mary because she got to carry the Son of God. Oftentimes, pride, entitlement, and jealousy those are traps we can fall into when we have been blessed by God or when someone else close to us has seemingly been blessed more than us.

 Today, let's all press in and follow Elizabeth's lead. Let's take time to respond to God in humility with sincere joy and thankfulness for all He's done for us that we plainly and simply do not deserve. Let's be overwhelmed and taken-a-back at all He's done for us. But let's not stop there:As a natural result and out of the overflow, let's bless those around us.

When we're right with the Lord, pride, entitlement, and jealousy have no place. There's only room for joy, thankfulness, and blessings for ourselves and others. Let's walk in that today, ladies.

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