“For he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.“
Luke 1:49

–

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Do you ever take a minute to look over your life and find yourself realizing that God was at work when you didn’t realize it? Sometimes I find myself thinking back to previous years when I felt lost, lonely, sad, or confused, and it’s amazing to see the fingerprints of God all over my life even then.

Without fail, I find that He has always been present and working all things for my good and His glory, even when I was completely oblivious!

When Mary was given the life-changing news that she would give birth to the Son of God, she responded with praise. Praise not only for what God would do or was doing in that moment, but for the great things He had already done. As we saw yesterday, Mary knew God had always been faithful to His people. But she had also experienced His goodness on a personal level. This is why she chooses to sing a song of praise to God, rather than dwell on the uncertainty of her precarious position as an unwed teenage mother.

This was no apprehensive song of praise! It is impossible to read the Magnificat without recognizing the joy that permeates these verses. Mary’s grateful heart not only prompts her to praise God joyfully in the present but to look forward to the future with hope. Her intentional recognition of God’s faithfulness moves her to gratitude which transforms her outlook on what many would deem a precarious situation.

No matter what life brings, we can experience the same joy and peace that Mary had. We can ground ourselves in the goodness that we have already experienced from our God. In the good times and the difficult ones, let us remember to look back and praise God for the many great things He has already done!

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • How has God been good to you in the past?
  • When looking back at difficult times in the past, do you see evidence of His goodness during that time?
  • How does expressing gratitude to God for the great things He has done for you fill you with joy?

 

Church Reading Plan: Nahum 3; Luke 19