The First Songs of Christmas by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth is one of my reads for the month of Christmas. The focus is on the songs of Christmas. Years ago, a Titus 2 lady in my life encouraged me to ask the Lord for some new thought each holiday season. That has become my habit each year since. This little devotional book has given me so much to think about.
I’ve also been thinking about how to wrap up my year with my one word for 2021, believing. The entry in the devotional for day 5 has provided much food for thought for me during this season.
“The word translated “blessed” in Luke 1:45 is a different word than the “blessed” of verse 42, the one that equates to eulogy. This one (“Blessed is she who has believed”) is the Greek word makarios, meaning “one whom God makes fully satisfied”—not because of favorable circumstances, but because God Himself provides the satisfaction. To be makarios is to be fully content, even in situations that are less than ideal, solely because God lives in us through Christ. In other words, it’s the state of being saved. No matter what we are called to endure as Christians, we have all we need … because we have Jesus.”
“Blessed is she who has believed…”
After meditating on something, I often write a paraphrase. You could say, God has made her who has believed fully satisfied with Himself. As I thought about this, I began to see some evidence of it in my life over this last year. One of my verses for the year was Matthew 21:22. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Many times I have cried out to the Lord while not necessarily believing that I will receive. I have been convicted about that and working on changing it. One result of that is that I have found myself talking to the Lord more and more. Another result is that I can see that I have received. I’m not talking about the Lord giving me everything I thought I needed or wanted. He hasn’t answered every request the way I hoped or in the timing I desired; however, I am finding that the dissatisfaction of past “unanswered prayer” is fading and that I am becoming more satisfied with God Himself. I have all I need because I have Jesus!
As I was thinking about the correlation of believing and the blessing of satisfaction in the Lord, I couldn’t help but notice something. Every time I make the choice to believe that God is good, I see more of His goodness. Every time I make the choice to believe that God is faithful, I see more of His faithfulness. Every time I make the choice to believe that God will provide, I see more of His provision. Every time I make the choice to believe that God loves me, I see more of His love for me. This is God blessing the one who has believed. This is the joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13).
We know that Mary experienced this satisfaction because of her beautiful song in Luke 1:46-55. Most scholars believe that she was around 16 years old!! Marvel over all that she believed about her God as you read.
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham,
and to his seed for ever.
How about you? What thought are you meditating on during this Christmas season? Do you have a sense of God making you more satisfied with Himself? Why not spend some time meditating on Elizabeth’s words about Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed…”
Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
Drinking at the Springs 