April 30

Christian Women Devotionals

 Elizabeth of Hungary (1207–1231) Born into royalty, Elizabeth of Hungary was the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and raised in the Wartburg Castle of Thuringia. Despite her position, wealth, and influence, her heart was set on Christ. She married Ludwig IV of Thuringia, a nobleman who supported her piety, and together they lived a life of remarkable simplicity and service — uncommon in European courts.

After Ludwig’s death during the Crusades, Elizabeth, still only in her early twenties, took a radical step: she renounced her wealth and royal rights, donned plain clothing, and lived among the poor. She established a hospital with her dowry and personally nursed the sick and dying, even lepers. Her castle pantry and wardrobe became public stores for the hungry and cold. She spent her final years in prayer, fasting, and care for others — all done quietly, without seeking attention or reward.

Elizabeth’s faith was deeply rooted in Christ’s command to serve “the least of these.” Her compassion was more than charity — it was a surrender of pride, power, and comfort in pursuit of the Kingdom of God.

Elizabeth’s Final Words (as recorded by her handmaid):

“See how He comes to me — my Bridegroom.”
Spoken on her deathbed at age 24, she gazed upward with joy. Her room smelled of bread and lilies, symbols of her care and humility.

*Source: Testimony from the Canonization Process of Elizabeth of Hungary, 1235.

Selected Anecdotes:

The Bread in the Cloak
She once secretly carried bread to the poor beneath her cloak. When confronted, the bread was said to have turned into roses — a symbol of her charity protected by heaven.

Feet in the Mud
She was seen removing her shoes and walking barefoot in the rain to bring a warm blanket to a sick woman who lived in the fields.

The Crib and the Cross
Elizabeth placed a small wooden crucifix over the crib of every child she sheltered. She said, “Let the little ones grow beneath His shadow.”

The Noblewoman Who Served the Sick
When warned that caring for lepers was unfit for a princess, she answered, “My King wore wounds — so may I kneel before them.”

The Widow’s Dowry
After her husband’s death, instead of remarrying, she used her entire dowry to build a hospital, explaining, “Let my bride-price serve the Bride of Christ.”

 Famous Quotes Attributed to Elizabeth:

"I am only rich when I give."
"Love does not wait for approval to serve."
"The crown I seek is not of gold."
"Christ’s wounds are more precious than rubies."
"My hands must echo the mercy of heaven."

Legacy:

Elizabeth of Hungary lived the Gospel with radical beauty. Her story defies the expectations of royalty — not because she relinquished wealth, but because she did so with joy. Her life stands as a testimony that holiness is possible at any age, and that generosity is a form of worship. Through her self-denial, she revealed the abundant riches of Christ. In her tenderness to the poor, she bore the likeness of her Savior.

 Jane Colden (1724–1766) was America’s first female botanist, a quietly brilliant Christian woman who combined scientific inquiry with spiritual insight. Born in New York's Hudson Valley, she was the daughter of Cadwallader Colden, a physician and scientist who encouraged her education at a time when few women had access to advanced learning. By her early twenties, Jane had mastered the Linnaean system of plant classification and began cataloging hundreds of plants native to colonial America.

Working from her family’s estate in Coldengham, she described and illustrated over 300 species with remarkable accuracy. Her hand-drawn herbarium was one of the earliest botanical records of American flora, and her correspondence with botanists like Linnaeus and Peter Collinson reflected both scientific precision and devotional humility. Although she never sought public acclaim, her quiet devotion to both God’s creation and Christian virtue shone through her notes, where she often acknowledged the Creator’s wisdom in nature’s design.

Jane Colden died young, but not before leaving behind a legacy of intellectual rigor, gentle faith, and a pioneering spirit in both science and spiritual life.

Jane’s Final Words (as recalled in Colden family writings):

“Every leaf bears His name, and every root His kindness.”
Believed to be spoken as she lay looking out at the woods she studied so dearly, Bible and herbarium at her side.

Source: Colden Family Letters, archived in early New York botanical records.

Selected Anecdotes:

The Garden Psalms
Jane was known to sing from the Psalms while tending her garden. One servant said, “She prayed aloud when she planted.”

The Bible and the Field Guide
In her notes, she often compared flowers to biblical truths: “The modest violet teaches humility; the lily reminds us of Christ’s provision.”

The Quill and the Leaf
Each plant sketch was labeled in Latin and English — and accompanied by a personal reflection. One read: “Man may classify, but only God creates.”

The Visitors from Philadelphia
A group of visiting scholars were astonished to find a young woman in colonial garb explaining complex botanical systems. One later wrote, “She knew more of God’s green earth than most men of letters.”

A Letter Never Sent
Among her writings was an unfinished letter to a young woman: “Let your hands know the soil, and your heart know the Lord.”

Famous Quotes Attributed to Jane Colden:

"To know a plant is to know a gift."
"God has written His wisdom in the bark and the bloom."
"The Lord waters not only fields, but faith."
"What we harvest with care, we must thank with prayer."
"The wildest flower bows before its Maker."

Legacy:

Though Jane Colden was largely unrecognized in her own lifetime, she is now remembered as the first American woman to make a lasting mark on science. Her botanical work influenced generations of naturalists, and her humility reflected the heart of a true Christian scholar. She did not seek recognition — she sought truth in nature and Scripture. Her herbarium, like her heart, was full of reverence. She reminds us that great minds can bloom quietly — and that every field is holy when studied for God’s glory.

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals