Blessed is She: Part 1
This is Part 1 of the Blessed is She series.
Dear Friend,
Can I make a straight up confession? Old-timey literature is so full of “he,” “him,” “mankind,” and “man,” that I sometimes feel lost in that rhetoric. Like nobody remembered to write down anything about the women.
But God…
God remembers the women.
The Bible is full of references of God specifically honoring women.
Healing women.
Noting the extraordinary faith of women.
This is the first in our “Blessed is She” series, which looks at the specific promises made to women, the specific interactions Jesus had with women. Our hope is that as we meditate on these scriptures, we will be lifted up, encouraged.
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45
Did you see that? This scripture has "she" and "her" all over it!
I’m usually all about context* but at this point, I want you to just speak those words out loud over yourself:
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Now keep the meaning but re-work it:
“She who believes…is blessed.”
Believes what? “The Lord will fulfill his promises to HER.”
Do you believe God’s promises to you?
Are you like me, sitting there struggling to remember what promises God has made to you, Dear Friend? Let me refresh your memory:
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“I, the Lord your God… show love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20: 5-6
Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Practice
If you are like me, you might read the promises above and say, “Isn’t that nice? They must be for someone else.” I would encourage you to pray and ask God to “highlight” one of the verses above that is particularly hard for you to believe. Write that verse out several times. Put it on a notecard and put it in your wallet. Paste another one on your bathroom mirror. When you rise say it to yourself. When you’re stuck in traffic, repeat it. Say it before you go to sleep at night. Or try these meditation ideas. Ask God to reveal the layers of this promise. The nuance. The hidden promises within the promise. Ask him to give you eyes of faith to see Him fulfilling this promise in your life. I believe God is going to speak to you powerfully as you eat from His word in this way. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Enjoy these sacred blessings, my friend.
Love,
Your Friend
*For context, please read Luke Chapter 1. It’s a beautiful, vibrant story about a woman too old to give birth and a young woman who never imagined the miracle God might birth through her. Yet she believed God. May you go and believe God today, too.
p.s. This is an amazing resource if you want to go deep into God’s Divine Promises