She Simply Believed.

BLESSED are those who {have not yet seen but} believe. John 20:29

These words bring such a beautiful promise of assured blessings comfort and hope to a soul who cannot make sense of it’s vision but in requires a faith that is put into action despite what our eyes can see. It is in that very place that God desires of us a faith that depends upon His bare world. A faith so that others will see.

By His grace He extends His love and mercy regardless of what our eyes can see or what our hearts feel. He shows up , knowing all that we need, providing His guidance each step of the way. He knows all that we can bear and trusts us with what He is asking us to do. His glory filling our heart with blessed assurance and using His precious people to nudge us on and offer gentle support along the way.

How precious are His people who bring word of His unfailing love. A sister in Christ who knows that her Redeemer Lives and His promises are sure as she bears witness of these things because of what she believes and because of what He has done in her life.

“Whatever the Lord has purposed He will do” and such great assurance these Words should bring to our hearts. Recently the Lord has given me these Words to cling to, “Do you believe?”

In my desire to be blessed by the promises of God I know something is required of me. To continually be reminded that there is a working of a pattern in the Scripture’s that requires me to do my part first…that is where faith must step in. I first must believe and God will surely bless. I first must come, and He will give rest. Come, Jesus told Peter and he got out of the boat he walked on water. The man with the withered hand Jesus said stretch out your hand, and he stretched it out and he was then restored. Always something required of me and then God will be found faithful to do His part because He blesses our obedience promising to always do His part.

Oh, how I think of Mary and the fulfillment of the promise to her in her life as we read; “BLESSED IS SHE WHO BELIEVES, her only responsibility God gave her was to….simply believe…and she will be blessed. A blessed life filled with the fulfillment of those things promised to her by the LORD. A life that was lived for His glory, that required a great but quiet faith, a faith that trusted God to accomplish His will in her life.

“The One Who calls us is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) and I pray that each of us know our calling in Him and submit to Him with an undivided heart as we draw nearer to Him. He is faithful. He will do it.

This morning while in Luke I was drawn to this great faith…the great and yet quiet faith of two women whose hearts belonged to God. Mary who is promised in marriage, yet she is willing to bear God's son. Elizabeth although barren, yet her trust in God remained so fruitful. Although we know their stories, God's Word is alive and as we prepare our hearts to hear from Him how He fills our hungry hearts full of truth giving to us the very Word we need. How I again am so encouraged as their stories “were written to us as examples to admonish us” and to not look to ourselves but to God.

I was reminded that in the great and quiet faith their confidence was found in God and in accepting and submitting to the Lord's plans and will for their lives. They were confident in the God in whom they served and belonged. Their lives involved personal sacrifices along with some persecution from those who doubted and tried to discourage yet they remained faithful to Him. Their lives teach us by example to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promises in our lives.

I love how they reflected the beauty of God as they encouraged each other in their faith and God’s promises given to them: "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45). As believers, how we can surely imagine the sweet time of fellowship they had as they came together and the godly encouragement they gave as they magnified His name and shared in the promises of God. As we come together with other believers even today our faith is strengthened and encouragement is given “as the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with us all” {2 Cor 13:14}. There is an indescribable joy that is shared as we glory in the things of God.…as we unite in one purpose by standing firm through opposition, while relying on strength and guidance from Almighty God.

As we believe and then bear witness to a God who keeps His promises, we as Mary open our lips in overwhelming adoration of God as she voiced the true condition of her heart proclaiming, “He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His offspring forever” {Luke 1:54-55}. As we believe, bear witness and praise God we then are greatly used to help others and remind them of His unending mercy He has upon all our lives.

"God, Who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

{1 Corinthians 1:9}

Precious Father, Thank You for your promises, that Your Word "is at work in [those] who believe"

(1 Thessalonians 2:13). I pray, that You will guide each of us, that Your faithfulness will strengthen our faith…. And that we would rest in the promises You have given us. I pray that we would be used as an encouragement to one another through the nudging of your Holy Spirit. May we each seek to glorify You through the sacrifice of our lives and with a great and quiet faith that says in agreement through the words of Mary, “Let it be done according to Your will"

In the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Michelle A. Guerra