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Through the Eyes of Women

For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:37-38

Watch Session One: Jesus Equips the Ordinary

You can tell a lot about a person by who surrounds them. Jesus was surrounded by both men and women, and the women around him were faithful friends. He was encircled by women who knew him, who learned from him, who raised him, and who trusted him. These women followed and sacrificed, they cried out and asked questions, they believed and did the unbelievable. These women were ordinary but made extraordinary by Jesus. He lifted them up, raised up their voices, healed their bodies, and placed upon them value, worth, and authority. He loved these women, and he loves you. Each of these women was uniquely created and called to a specific purpose in the life of Jesus as well as for the sake of those in their communities and even for us today.

favored one

First among these women was Mary, Jesus’s mother. Mary, who had no accolades or family line. Mary, whose identity was “highly favored.” In Luke 1, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Joseph are all given identities that have to do with their family names as well as their character and social situations. Mary is simply called “highly favored” or “favored one”—twice (Luke 1:28, 30)! Mary’s identity is repeated as she receives the news that she will carry the Son of the Most High. Mary saw her identity through the eyes of God. As the angel repeated her identity to her, so we often need our identity repeated to us: beloved, delighted in, created in God’s image and so much more.

rooted surrender

As Mary was strengthened in identity and rich in faith, she chose surrender to God (Luke 1:46–55). She said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She chose surrender and trust. She believed that whatever God said, God would do. The surrender is found in “let it be” and the trust is found in “according to your word.” She trusted who God said he was, and she trusted that God would fulfill his Word. Mary had a humble confidence. Like Mary, our surrender is rooted in believing God’s Word. Do we know and believe God’s words to us?

our names

Mary’s identity was grounded in how God saw her. Yours is the same. How does God see you? What does God call you? Do you hear it? Can you see it? God’s Word says many things about you and your name. The psalmist talked about how his soul knew God’s works were wonderful (Psalm 139:13–14). How about you? Does your soul know that God’s works are wonderful? Or do you use different names for yourself? Names that shame. Names that turn you in on yourself. Names that destroy you from the inside out.

Mary’s identity was grounded in how God saw her. Yours is the same. How does God see you?

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What the Women Saw

Daily Question

What names do you use to identify yourself? If there are names that aren’t from God, ask him to replace those names with truth so you might know your name and be able to respond to him with the humble confidence of Mary.

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Comments (12)

God chosen words for me: faithful, enough, chosen, forgiven, uniquely created, loved! God has also given me the role of daughter, mother, wife, sister, nonna, aunt & friend. All of which He has placed on me foe his glory!

I’m still learning to embrace it and let it consume my whole identity, but I love that God calls me Beloved. I didn’t know that was what I wanted to be called, but when I finally heard it, I was so moved. That name says so much to me.

I am worthy, unique, strong and caring. I believe my gifts are used to help others be free from pain and limiting beliefs. God Is constantly reminding me of how my gifts are used to heal. Sometimes I do get caught up in selfish ways and forget to put others first( for example my husband) just because I am a healer and all day long put others first. It hard to balance, but I need to go to Jesus and ask him for his help to keep things balanced.

creative /Daughter of the King/ blessed/ One that finds favor/ One who births (More then just being a Midwife)
Thank you Lord for all of this in my life !

The names that I use to identify myself are mother, wife, professional, fat, disgusting, failure, victim. God I ask you to replace the names that I call myself with truth so I might know my name and be able to respond to you with the humble confidence of Mary.

Praying for you, redeemed, valuable, favored, righteous, conqueror, precious, victorious! May the truth of who you are in Christ define you in your own heart, mind and spirit! ❤️??❤️

Before Jesus came in and remade me, I would use my sexuality to define who I was, and the enemy would remind me of that. The word "slut" was what I would hear in my head if I was tempted to flirt with someone other than my husband, or try to attract attention from across the room. I have slowly been able to replace that in my thoughts, and when I read in the Bible about the adulterous woman, I no longer see myself staring back at me. I see myself as His, part of a royal priesthood, fearfully made, redeemed, and a conqueror.

If I’m in a social setting, I never introduce myself as "My name is Diana," Instead, I hang on to the fact that I am a child of God and I always introduce myself as "I AM Diana," It just gives me comfort and confidence in knowing I am his and I put him first above me.

Lord, as you well know, the enemy has been in the name calling business in my head. But You and your word have slowly been changing what I hear. I see my gifts a little more clearly. With humility I embrace them. Use me Lord. Lead me to those I need and to those that need me. Let something I do have eternal significance.

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