By Dannah Gresh, Creator of True Girl
Read Luke 1:26-38
“And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you: therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the one of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age also conceived a son.”
Luke 1: 35-36a
Last night I could not sleep. I was tossing and turning when I decided to just get out of bed and get something done. Glancing at my clock, which read 1:30 (as in am), I groggily stood up and turned toward the bedroom door. What I saw terrified me in a way that I’ve only been terrified a few times in my life: a white figure stood right in the doorway. I screamed. Then it screamed. Then I screamed again. Coming to my senses, I said, “Bob, what are you doing wearing MY bathrobe?”
It was my husband in my white robe. Apparently, he couldn’t sleep either. (Nor could he find his own bathrobe in the dark.)
The terror in my heart was so real even though the white figure turned out to be human.
But it made me think: imagine you are Mary. In keeping with the Jewish customs of the day, many Bible scholars believe she would have been as young as twelve years old when a figure (who I imagine may have been dressed in white) showed up.
And it wasn’t Bob!
It was God’s angel.
I don’t know if she screamed, but I know she was scared because the first thing the angel told her was "Do not be afraid." He would not have said that if he didn’t know she was scared. He told her that God was “with her.”
As I read Luke 1:26-38, which you have just read if you opened up your Bible for our Bible Blast assigned above, I was struck with a brand new thought: God did not expect young Mary to go through this alone. Even though the message was that God was “with her,” there was more.
As quickly as the angel tells Mary she will be the mother of God’s son, he tells her that her relative Elizabeth is also pregnant. It’s almost as if to say, "You’re not alone.” Not only was God “with her” but he was going to put some skin and bones of real human flesh into Mary’s life. He gave her “old” Elizabeth. Together they would journey through the first Christmas season, each with her own special assignment from God. Mary’s was to prepare her heart and body for Jesus' birth. Elizabeth’s was to help Mary.
You, dear mother and daughter, will journey through this Christmas season together. Each of you has your own unique assignments from God, but may I give each of you one? Daughter, your job this week is simply to prepare your heart for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Mom, your job is to help her.
Aren’t you thankful that you’re not alone? You have each other.
Optional mother+daughter date: Put on your fuzzy robes (but don’t scare anyone) and grab some hand lotion. Give each other hand massages. While you do, talk over today’s Bible reading. Mom, put yourself in Elizabeth’s shoes and tell your daughter how she may have felt being given the task to mentor Mary? How do you feel about mentoring your own sweet girl? Daughter, put yourself in Mary’s shoes and tell your mom how it might have felt to know Elizabeth would help her? How does it feel to have your mom to talk to about Jesus?
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. Order now to get it in time to start her first devo on January 1st!
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.
