By Dannah Gresh, Creator of True Girl
Read Luke 1:39-45
“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Luke 1:42
When my daughter was only twelve —the age Mary might have been when she carried baby Jesus in her body— she introduced someone to Jesus for the first time. She was at summer camp when she met a new friend from South Korea who we’ll call Hannah. They enjoyed sharing a cabin and counselor all week. On the last night of camp, she asked Hannah if Jesus was Lord of her life. Hannah said, “No.” She asked her why. Hannah shared what was holding her back from making the decision. The next thing my daughter knew, she was quoting a Bible verse to Hannah. The verse was just the thing that Hannah needed to hear and she got to pray with her to invite Jesus to be Lord of her life.
When she got home and told me the story, she said, “Mom, I didn’t even know that I knew that Bible verse. I think God just put it in my head for Hannah.”
I can tell you that my heart leaped for joy in hearing the story. God’s Spirit excited me. I could sense Him in my daughter and that made me so happy; it felt like butterflies in my stomach! Without even a thought, I spoke some special and private words of encouragement to her. This could be called a blessing. When we say positive and encouraging things to people, it is a blessing. Sometimes they are not thought out or planned. The words just pop out in response to the presence of God’s Spirit.
That’s kind of like what happened to Elizabeth when Mary showed up with baby Jesus—still to be born—in her belly. God’s Spirit could be sensed. And Elizabeth just erupted with encouragement for Mary. Words of blessing. She said, “Blessed are you among women.” In other words, “I can hardly think of a woman in the world who is more special than you right now!” These were big words of blessing and get this: as far as we know, Mary hadn’t even told her about the baby. But Elizabeth knew. She said, “And blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Or we might say, “That baby inside of you is really special, too.” God’s Spirit told her. And the spontaneous response was verbal encouragement!
Mom+Daughter mini-date: Host a mother/daughter love feast today. I do these with my daughters and girls I mentor from time to time. It’s simple. Gather somewhere special. (Mom’s bed after everyone else is tucked in. Under the Christmas tree. In a candlelit room. Keep it simple, but special.) Then invite God’s Spirit to help you encourage each other. After you pray, take turns “blessing.” Select one internal quality of beauty and one external quality of beauty to bless each other.
If you’ve enjoyed this Mother+Daughter Devo, consider having devos with your daughter all year long using the True Girl subscription, her new Bible Study BFF! Intentionally packed with your tween (7-12) girl in mind, it’s full of daily devos to get her in the Word, mom+daughter dates that get you connecting, and exclusive bonus items from True Girl and other ministries we trust! It’s the most fun you’ll ever have digging into God’s Word together at home.
True Girl theme verse:
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32
Mom, the best way to teach your daughter to live like an authentic True Girl is to live like an authentic True Woman. And to do that, you've got to get your life lined up with the Truth of the Bible. Listen to Dannah Gresh every weekday on Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth's Revive Our Hearts podcast. The program features biblical teaching, interviews that offer godly advice, and other opportunities to abide in God's Word.
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