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Day Twenty-Two December 24 Did you know commentaries are split on whether Mary stayed until Elizabeth actually gave birth, or if she left right before Baby John made his way into the world? It’s another one of those details the Father doesn’t believe we need to know. While Elizabeth would’ve come to full-term in her pregnancy while Mary was there as her houseguest, we can’t say definitely

Day Twenty-One December 23 Again, I wish I could read your answers from yesterday. I expect they are fascinating. I suspect that many of you touched on the possibility that God forever protected what was happening under that roof as Mary and Elizabeth feasted on the faith-fortifying similarities of their miraculous callings. I know, for me, I see a loving heavenly Father almost “incubating” Mary as she

Day Twenty December 22 While it was far from an exhaustive study, yesterday we looked at the last verses of Mary’s Magnificat. Today we’ll focus on the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary. Luke gives us one more piece of information on their visit, and its brevity is tantalizing: “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home” (Luke 1:56). That’s all the information we’re privy

Day Nineteen December 21 A few days ago, we talked about Mary taking the long view on God’s work. We see this again in the last words of her song. “He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.” (verses 54–55) As Mary closes her song of praise, she traces her pregnancy to

Day Seventeen December 19 Let’s begin today’s devotional by reading the next five lines of the Magnificat: “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear

Day Sixteen December 18 If Mary had a prepared speech, she never gave it. The Spirit of God literally takes over the meeting and her older cousin breaks out in a celebration that confirms the news Mary has yet to spill. I’m reminded of the old commercial, “How do you spell relief?” Mary may have spelled it: “E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H!” for the young traveler is suddenly energized! She responds with

Day Fifteen December 17 Can you put yourself in Mary’s shoes as she lands on Elizabeth’s doorstep? This young girl is aware that life, as she had expected it to unfold, is over. Scholars suggest that it’s likely Mary hasn’t told anyone of her pregnancy at this point—not her parents, nor her peers, and not the man she planned to marry. By this time, yours truly here