10 Lessons on Prayer from the Lives of Elizabeth and Mary in the Bible

In Luke 1:26-38, the birth of Jesus is foretold, as the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a son. But not just any son–this one would be born of the Holy Spirit and “will be called the Son of Most High” (Luke 1:32). She was puzzled as any poor young woman visited by an angel would be, but even knowing the cultural implications of being an unwed mother, she said, “I am the Lord’s servant . . . May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). God’s will be done.

According to Luke, she immediately packed her bags and went to visit her relative, Elizabeth. The angel had told Mary that Elizabeth was also expecting a miracle birth, so she would likely welcome a visit from Mary.

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Once she greeted Elizabeth and heard her God-given insight, Mary exclaimed:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:46-55)

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First, we need to know a little bit about Elizabeth—and a little bit is really all we are given to read about her in the gospel. We learn from Luke 1:5-7 that she is from the priestly line of Aaron, and so is her husband Zechariah, who serves as a priest in the temple. We also learn that both are “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly . . . [but] Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.”

So, while we don’t read reports of her praying, a devout Jewish woman wanting a child was likely very fervent and very consistent in her prayers. When Elizabeth became pregnant, she thanked God for doing this for her, showing her favor, and taking away her disgrace—the first prayer we read from her (Luke 1:25).

But it was her prayer of celebration of what happened when she saw Mary that was most exciting. “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear . . . Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.” (Luke 1:41, 45)

Elizabeth knew that she was also blessed by God and acknowledged it: “But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). Not only did she receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit similar to Mary (which it doesn’t appear that their husbands received), she was among the first to recognize and thank God for the Lord that Mary was carrying in her womb.

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After the Christmas story, Mary has several other notable appearances in the New Testament. 

Mary was at the wedding in Cana, where she asked Jesus to do something about the fact that the bride and groom had run out of wine.

She was at the crucifixion, and she was among the fellowship of believers who gathered together after the Ascension and before Pentecost.

We can’t know if May prayed for Jesus to act at the wedding or understand her motives (if any, besides making sure the bride and groom were not shamed). She must have certainly prayed watching her son die on the cross and asked the Father to spare Him any more suffering. We definitely know, however, from Acts 1 that the fellowship of believers were praying constantly (Acts 1:14).

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We can never exhaust the lessons that the Bible teaches us through the people God chose for special missions. But I’ve gathered a list of 10 things that the Holy Spirit showed me in going over these stories again. Most have to do with not asking God for something in prayer but celebrating Him and the gifts He was giving.

1. Praying with gratitude: both women didn’t just ask. They celebrated the answers to their prayers with great exclamation and acknowledgment that God had done great and marvelous deeds.

2. Praying immediately: neither woman waited to pray. I can’t imagine either saying, “I’ll pray for what God is doing.” Rather, they rushed to thank their Father in heaven with great thankfulness.

3. Praying with personal detail: Elizabeth’s prayer in Luke 1:25 is so poignant to me. She recognized that not only would she have the gift of a son, but God had also removed the societal disgrace of being barren, which would have left her pitied, ridiculed, or even suspect about her character.

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4. Praying with exaltation: Mary doesn’t just thank God for what He has done for her. She goes on to talk about how amazing He is in remembering to be “merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever” for “performing mighty deeds with his arm” and that “he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts” (Luke 1:50-55).

5. Praying for others: Elizabeth was honored to pray for Mary and celebrate God’s kindness in showing her that her baby leaped in her womb because he knew she was carrying Jesus.

6. Praying with others: Again, this may be conjecture, but considering what the Bible says about Zechariah and Elizabeth—how they were very devout and righteous, yet without children–I imagine they often prayed together. Their patient waiting on the Lord is another great example to us who want immediate answers to prayer.

7. Praying for our children and those of others: Both women would be praying for both children, especially in light of what God said their roles would be. Just because God chose them for the most important missions in the world didn’t mean they wouldn’t suffer and need prayer.

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8. Praying for God’s will to be done as He sees fit: Mary so beautifully expresses her willingness to be part of God’s plan for all of eternity, though she had no idea where it would lead.

9. Praying with remembrance: Mary called to mind promises that God had made to Israelites born hundreds of years before to prove that God is faithful.

10. Praying consistently and constantly: I’ve discussed how both women would have been examples of this, but it bears repeating. We are told in the Bible to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking, and to be in continuous communication with our heavenly Father.

A good practice for me is to look at this list of 10 items every day and see if I’m praying in the same manner that two women, who were beyond blessed by God, would pray. I think in each case, God would be glorified, and we would grow closer to Him by this intimate practice.

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