Her Prayer, Our Foundation

Mary, did you know? Every year I hear that song around the Christmas season, and the song reminds me of good questions we can ask Jesus’ mother. This year, however, as I read Luke 1, I have a new question for her: Mary, did you know that your prayer reveals so much about who God is?

This is what Mary prayed in her desire to magnify the reality of God:

“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.”

I have identified at least 10 realities Mary’s prayer reveals about God: (perhaps you will find more!)

  1. God saves!

  2. God considers the humble.

  3. God is mighty—He does great things for us.

  4. God is Holy.

  5. God is merciful toward those who fear Him.

  6. His strength is often quiet—He has scattered the proud in their thoughts.

  7. He brings down the “mighty” and exalts the “humble”.

  8. He fills our hunger with good things.

  9. He remembers mercy—even when we fail to be faithful to Him.

  10. He speaks through each generation!

While this year, 2020, has shaken up so many things about our existence and even take up lives with it, I find that the more I reflect on God’s character, the more I want to see Him magnified, exalted over my thoughts, interpretations, and even feelings. 

If Mary was here today perhaps she would ask us, “Did you know that your God and Savior is like this…? 

May the Spirit of the Lord give us clarity to know Him as He wants to be known in this season.

—Diego Cuartas

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