What gave Mary enormous confidence in an incredibly fearful situation? She believed God would keep his word.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45 NIV).

If I needed a major surgery and was worried if I could afford it, I’d go get my insurance policy and see if the procedure was covered. If the insurance company had promised to pay for it, then I wouldn’t be anxious or worried.

Far too many people in our world today are fearful and anxious and worried because they don’t know what’s in God’s policy manual, the Bible. In this book, there are more than 7,000 promises from God to you about your health, your relationships, your career, your past and present and future, and about forgiveness of sin and eternal life. But if you don’t know those promises, you can’t claim them! When you go through life not knowing what God has promised you in his Word, you will be filled with anxiety.

To overcome fear, you must know, trust, and remember what God has promised to do in your life. That’s what gave Mary confidence.

Elizabeth noticed this. When Mary came to visit her, she told Mary, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:45 NIV). Mary believed God would keep his promises. That’s what gave this young peasant girl enormous confidence in an incredibly fearful situation. She believed God would keep his word.

The most important promise God made in the Bible is that when you die, you will go to heaven if you trust in the Son he sent at Christmas. That’s called the promise of eternal life. It’s in John 3:16, the most famous verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV).

But Jesus didn’t just come to earth to forgive your sins. He also came to eliminate your fears here and now. Hebrews 2:15 says that Jesus took on humanity so he could “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (NIV).

It reminds me of the line of that famous carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem”: “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” 

Every hope restored. Every fear defeated. This is the greatest promise you can claim this Christmas.

Talk It Over

How many of God’s promises from the Bible can you name? What can you do today to start memorizing God’s Word more consistently or effectively?

In what situation do you need to feel confidence instead of fear?

Why does God want you to live without fear?

Why not trust Jesus for your salvation this Christmas?

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say that salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

“Jesus, I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

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This devotional © 2019 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.