Mensa Otabil - Blessed Are You
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Luke 1, verses 41 and 42: «And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'»
The scene at this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth is a deeply spiritual one: two women of destiny carrying something magnificent from God, meeting together for the first time and recognizing each other and what they were carrying. Elizabeth is six months pregnant at this time, and when she hears the voice of Mary, something happens to her; the baby leaps in her womb. While for a woman who is six months pregnant, a baby stirring or kicking should be normal, she senses something unusual. Thus, we must conclude that what she senses as leaping is more than just a baby kicking in the womb since that would have been a normal experience by this point in her pregnancy.
She realizes something has happened, and it is because Mary spoke. When Mary spoke, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb was stirred, and not only that, Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak into the life of Mary. It seems that the Holy Spirit, who was resting upon Mary, did not leave her after her conception; the Holy Spirit was still upon her, and so when she speaks to Elizabeth, it affects the baby in her and affects Elizabeth herself. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies to Mary, speaking words that are very close to what the angel had spoken to Mary.
You must understand that at this time, Elizabeth has no clue what Mary has heard, as there was no Facebook, no WhatsApp, and no cell phone, so there was no way she could know that an angel had appeared to Mary. Elizabeth now speaks into Mary’s life as if she knows what Mary is carrying, and this is all by the work of the Holy Spirit. She has the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and through an inspired work of the Holy Spirit, she can discern that her relative is blessed by the Lord. The Lord God connected these two women together, which is something very important to note: these two women experienced something only God could understand, and no one else could comprehend it except God.
God connects them because Mary is going to need someone to understand her on her journey. Elizabeth must recognize that what her cousin is experiencing is not a usual thing; this is the work of the Holy Spirit, which granted her the ability to do that. Many times, when God places a great idea inside you or births something great within you, He will connect you with people of like mind and kindred spirit—people who will not discourage you, people who will not bring you down, but people who understand what you want to achieve and where your journey is headed. I pray that God will connect you with people like that as He connected Mary and Elizabeth, for God has a plan for you. Not everyone will understand you, but there is someone, a kindred spirit, that God will connect you with, who will help you realize what you have and bring it to fruition.
May the Lord give you that divine connection. Let’s share a word of prayer together. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, stir up the power of Your Spirit within me and connect me with people of like spirit in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.» May the Lord connect you, and may the Holy Spirit work His work through you. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.