Deeper Reflection
Mary saw clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of human history. Mary saw beyond her present circumstances to behold a God who is beyond all time and boundaries. As she lifted her eyes off herself and onto God, she was caught up in a wonderful deep love for God. Mary broke forth with a song of exaltation known as “The Magnificat” (Lk 1:46-55).²³ From the depths of her finite being, she praises and glorifies the infinite God. Mary’s song began with the words, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (v.46). To magnify the Lord is to exalt Him, to lift Him up in praise, to declare His greatness! Mary’s words that follow after verse 46 are words of deep delight in God, and spiritual insight reflecting a special clarity regarding the spiritual realities in her life story as well as human history.Let us take a few moments to magnify the Lord through this prayer:Awesome God, may we never lose the wonder of You, our God, our Creator and Redeemer! You are great, mighty and holy beyond comparison! You are excellent, majestic and glorious above all else! Please give us eyes to see Your personal fingerprints in how You have made and called us, and how You are shaping and using our lives for Your glory. Give us a heart of gratitude and joy to delight in Your destiny for our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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²³ The Magnificat’s closest parallel is Hannah’s song of thanksgiving at the dedication of her young child, Samuel, to the Lord in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.