Today’s scripture: Luke 1:39-56 (NRSV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
Mary’s response to Elizabeth is a song of praise also known as the Magnificat. Mary summarizes God’s grace at work in her life and her own experience of joy and worship. “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”
Mary says her entire being magnifies, worships, exalts and adores the Lord. Am I able to imagine what it would be like living every moment of my life magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God? Can I imagine if I lived as if God looked upon me with favor?
Mary’s hymn of praise offers insights into the nature of worship. All of us have times where we struggle with our worship life, both individual and corporate. Our personal times of prayer and worship can be dry and dusty. Corporately, we wish for a more varied or deeper experience of worship. We may even “church shop,” seeking a worship experience that will somehow “feel” right. Mary’s life, and her response of worship show the important correspondence between the inner life of the spirit and the outward expression of worship.
We are richly blessed in the teaching, music, and fellowship of our church, yet we can become so critical, so demanding and picky about our worship experience and how our personal needs for worship should be met. God creates worship within each of us, which flows out when we are alone or gathered with others in God’s presence, regardless of external circumstances. My being open to the Holy Spirit and God’s worship is about me living life as a praise to God and celebrating God, and sharing that worship with others.
Thought for the day: When I come to God in worship, do I come with a list of demands? Or do I come with an attitude of praise and a heart open to the Spirit of God?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.