Living Like Liz

Elizabeth was an extraordinary woman in the Bible, and I want to live like her!

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, is portrayed as a woman of great faith, virtue, and grace. Found in the Gospel of Luke, her story offers valuable lessons on how to live a life guided by faith, humility, and steadfast devotion to God. Elizabeth and her husband Zacharias, who was a high priest, are both described as being

“righteous before God, walking in all the

commandments and ordinances

of the Lord blameless”

(Luke 1:6 KJV).

They had a devoted marriage, with a strong focus on living out their true purpose together in honoring Christ. Despite their struggles and barrenness, they remained faithful to the Lord and each other, dedicating their lives to Him.

I can only imagine what it would be like if Elizabeth and Zacharias’ lives were lived out in our modern world today! In this era, Elizabeth and Zacharias would likely prefer to be called Liz and Zach, and that’s how we’ll address them as we dive into their story. Zach would likely be a pastor and Liz would be a supportive wife, taking care of the home and certainly saddened by the fact that they couldn’t have children.

Zach and Liz are both older in age when they are visited by an angel telling each of them that they will have a son. Zach could not believe what the angel was telling him, and in great fashion, God essentially said “Zip it!” The angel shut Zach’s mouth, and he became mute because of his unbelief! He was unable to speak until their son, John, was born, and God’s promise to them had been fulfilled! Liz, on the other hand, trusted the Lord. She grabbed onto His words, believed what He said, and remained faithful to His promises. She only spoke words of praise and adoration for the incredible miracle God was performing!

I admire Liz’s character and have found ways that I can incorporate her virtues into my own life:

FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD

Liz’s life exemplified unwavering faith and trust in God’s plan. Despite facing years of barrenness, she continued to believe in God’s promises. She showed strong trust in what God spoke into her life. In our modern lives filled with uncertainties, learning to place our faith in God’s timing and His wisdom can bring us peace and strength to overcome any of life’s challenges. Even when it seems our time has passed or there is no solution, faithfully believing every promise of God is the only way to make it through.

HUMILITY AND GRATITUDE

When Mary, pregnant with Jesus, greeted her, Liz humbly exclaimed, “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43 NIV). This display of humility and gratitude shows Liz’s ability to stay humble and continue to remain thankful to God for the miracle He was performing in her life. Every day, we are presented with the chance to seek out the miracles that occur in our lives and express gratitude to God for them as we go about our day. We can continually thank Him for the small things as well as the big things, as long as we stay humble and keep searching for His hand in everything we do.

GRACE AND CONFIDENCE

At the time of her son’s birth, Liz’s family and friends all came together to celebrate with her and Zach. According to tradition, they all called the baby Zach after his father. However, Liz corrected them saying, “No; he shall be called John.” (Luke 1:60 NKJV). This was months after her husband had not been able to speak, and without knowing what her husband was expecting the baby to be named. She stood confidently on what God had told her and gracefully corrected her family and friends to do as God had spoken. She was not intimidated by tradition or others’ expectations of her. Liz acted with assurance, knowing that she was fulfilling God’s will.

I pray that I will be able to live my life like Liz!

May I have the faith and trust in God to steadfastly stand in His promises with unwavering strength. Regardless of the circumstances, may my prayer life be strong enough to handle any uncertainty or challenge that comes my way. I want to be humble and overwhelmingly grateful for the opportunities that God has given me. I don’t want a day to pass in which I don’t stop to recognize the goodness of God. I pray that I can stand in gracious confidence despite any expectations or opinions (even from my closest family) that may be contrary to what I know God has spoken about my life. I want to live like Liz, and I encourage you to live like her as well!