Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women!” —Luke 1:41–42
When Elizabeth opened her door to Mary, who had just arrived from Nazareth, customary greetings went out the window. Instead she cried out, “Blessed are you!”—the Greek word which is translated “blessed” is the word from which we get our English word eulogy. It means “to speak well of, to express good wishes.”
This is why her song in Luke 1:42–45 is tradi- tionally known as the Beatitude, conveying words of “supreme blessedness or happiness.” But notice the words she spoke came from being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”
God has placed His Spirit inside His children to lead us, counsel us, and even show us what to say. Filled with the Holy Spirit, our mouths should be filled with words that are gracious and life-giving, that express our praise and worship.
Too often, we speak before we’re consciously aware of the Holy Spirit’s direction and discernment about what to say. May we learn, as Elizabeth did, the importance of letting our tongues be guided by Him.
Make it Personal
Think of deliberate ways you could elevate your conversations this Christmas—in value, in blessing, in God-honoring tone.