Five-minute read.
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
Luke 1:46-58
Mary’s song, called the Magnificat, praises God for choosing her to give birth to Jesus, highlights the Lord’s attributes (power, holiness, and mercy), exemplifies His sovereignty, and recalls the mercy He showed Israel. Jesus’s birth mother knew the Old Testament scripture, well versed in its writing, revealing her devout connection to the heavenly Father. Historians place Mary’s age around 13-14 years old when she carried the Savior within her womb. Young by today’s standards, typical for the culture of her day as people had much shorter life spans than now.
After praising the Lord, Mary indirectly acknowledges herself as a sinner in need of a Savior and her dependence on God. Elizabeth’s joy overflowed as she listened to Mary’s song. A young girl and an older woman, both pregnant with babies who would change the world. Can you imagine their awe and wonder as life grew inside them, both knowing divine intervention caused their pregnancies?
God moved in my life recently, ordering my steps and guiding me on a journey that helped me serve a friend. As I looked back on the event, awe and wonder filled my soul as the overwhelming presence of the Lord in my life filled me. Nothing I could have done could have orchestrated the moment that culminated after weeks of preparation. My faith grew more profound as I connected the dots of God’s guidance. Submitting my life becomes easier as I trust the Lord’s intimate involvement in my life, allowing Him to order my steps because I don’t doubt He has a better plan for me than anything I could ever imagine.
Nothing I’ve experienced compares to Mary. I can’t even imagine how she felt carrying the Savior in her belly, knowing the Lord chose her for the divine task. For nine months, He grew in her womb. How could she not overflow with praise for the Father? At the top of the list of miraculous births, Mary had an unfathomable experience we can only imagine.
Mary’s awe of the “Mighty One” reflects the Lord’s character. Humbling herself before God, Mary realizes her role in history’s storyline. Day by day, as Jesus grew in her belly, the young girl experienced God in a way no one else ever will. We can only imagine the mixture of emotions Mary felt as she fulfilled her God-given role. And we get to experience salvation through her Son. Jesus’s miraculous birth gives us access to miraculous living as we place our faith and trust in Him.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to You in awe and wonder at the miracle of Jesus’s conception and birth. Praise God for Mary’s faith and obedience as she fulfilled her divine destiny. Please help us live fully in Christ today, experiencing His wonders as we allow You to order our steps.
IJNIP. Amen
