God My Savior

Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord.

My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid.

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

For he who is mighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name.

His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

He has shown strength with his arm.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.

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

He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.”             Luke 1:46-55 (WEB)

Does my soul magnify God? Does the essence of me extol, lift up God? That would mean that I give Him praise without even thinking about it! Magnifying God would be like breathing to me!

Mary said that even given the uncertainty of what could happen next – she is rejoicing in God who has brought all of this in her life! Do I rejoice when God throws me a curve? Do I whine because my life isn’t going the way I had plan? Do I crawl in bed and pull the covers over my head? Mary trusted God for her life. She held nothing back. She did not compartmentalize her life and keep God in a box to be taken out at her whim.

My pastor spoke about this passage yesterday. He had been meditating on who Mary was much like I was last week. He, too, came to the conclusion that she was not the stereotypical “Mary meek and mild”. He brought up an Old Testament connection to Elizabeth’s proclamation, “Blessed are you among women,…”. Those are the same words that Deborah spoke about the warrior woman, Jael, who drove a tent spike through the head of Israel’s enemy! Do you think Elizabeth spoke her words not realizing she was repeating Deborah’s words? I don’t think so. Wow! I learned something! Thanks, Pastor!

Mary’s song of praise is a song of revelation. God was showing Mary that her life was not limited. Her life and how she lived it would have an impact. She grasped the concept that allowing God to direct your life was going to reap BIG harvests. She remembers the promises of God and His promises are BIG.

This is Christmas week. I want my focus to be on God. I want my eyes on Him – and remember that His eyes are on me. I rejoice in God my Savior!