December 20 | Magnify
Luke 1:46-55 (NLT)
The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise
46 Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
Mary received the calling of a lifetime. She was to be the mother of the Savior of the world. Talk about high expectations!! She could’ve cowered in fear because of the heaviness of this call… She could’ve ran like some others in the Bible, not mentioning any names (*cough* Jonah!). She could’ve doubted. But no, she rejoiced and she magnified the name of the Lord. She recognized His strength and His provision for all those who came before her. How much more would God provide for his precious daughter, Mary?
Sometimes the call that God places on our lives can seem daunting and overwhelming. When I felt called to missions at 14, I had no idea how God would make this happen. How was I supposed to be able to leave everything I knew to travel to another country and bring the Gospel? To top it off, I’d have to constantly speak in front of people and I had major stage fright for crying out loud! But God. He calls us to amazing and incredible plans because He created us, He knows us and He sustains us.
Like Mary, can you choose to recall the great things that God has done despite your circumstances? Can you lean into His strength today knowing that He will guide you no matter how challenging the task He places before you may seem?
How can you magnify the name of the Lord today? Take a moment to write down and reflect on the ways God has given you strength and guided you. May your soul magnify the Lord today and always!
~Tara Matthews