March 5, 2023 - Luke 1:46-49

“Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.”” Luke 1:46-49 NLT

Father, I love Mary’s worship. What faith she had! Give us a heart like Mary’s. Let our soul praise you no matter how uncertain our future might be. We can trust that you are with us, and you will carry us through. Mary wasn’t noble or someone important. She was just a teenage girl who had a heart after you. Yet, you chose her to be the mother to your son. You trusted her in raising him. What an honor. But for Mary that could be a very overwhelming task. Here we don’t see her worrying. We don’t see her complaining about what it might cost her. We don’t see her upset because it changed her plans for her future. She sees being chosen and used by you as the honor that it is.

Lord, like Mary, you have plans for each of our lives. You have a mission for each of us. It will look different, but at some point, this calling will cost each of us something. We will have to decide if we will pay the cost. We not only want to be willing to pay the cost and say yes to whatever you ask, but we want to worship you for the honor of paying that cost. It truly is a privilege to be used by you. Sometimes the cost might be something big where we must make a sacrificial move. But much more often it will be found in our everyday lives of choosing to live for you and in your kingdom ways, instead of living to please ourselves in the ways of our world. It is in choosing to turn off the TV or lay down our phones to spend time in your Word. Choosing to pay the cost in those small decisions is what prepares us for the big ones. As we make those decisions develop in us a heart after you like Mary’s.

In Jesus name, amen.