Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished. Luke 1:45 We are blessed when we believe. We must walk out into what God has promised. Knowing in our spirits that He is for us and has gone before us to make a way, and yet somehow He's right there beside us keeping pace and providing sign posts to encourage along the path. In Luke chapter one we hear about a young girl named Mary who was visited by an angel and informed that she would become pregnant and bear a son who would rule over the everlasting kingdom. She was also told that God had provided her with a partner for this gestational journey, and her name is Elizabeth. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth and God uses her voice to confirm what He has all ready told her. Elizabeth, who clearly has a gift of encouragement, emphasizes to Mary just how blessed she is because she was chosen, because she carries the Lord, and that even Elizabeth's own baby was leaping for joy in her womb. Most of all Mary is blessed, Elizabeth explains, because she has believed. So what has the Lord placed before you that you must believe in order to move forward?This week a friend of mine is on the road traveling across Texas as she escorts her dying brother to the Panhandle where he plans to spend the time he has left. She knows by going she will walk closer with him to the end of his journey on this earth, and she fears she lacks the strength to accomplish this. She fears that this maybe their last shared road trip this side of Heaven. However, today she chooses to believe and go because God is still in control, and He holds her brother in His hand. She chooses to give all she has knowing that He will provide her a way forward and a way back.