How do I magnify the eternal when everything seems so wrong?
I read Mary's song not really feeling like I wanted to listen and learn, but I know that the process would prove fruitful regardless of my feelings. I determined to discover what I could about God in Mary's praise song.
Mary was in a very difficult situation. She was pregnant without the marriage bed. Who would believe her? She was nothing in the world's economy, but in God's economy she was worthy.
Even in her predicament she found a way to praise God.
I discovered that after fleeing to her cousin Elizabeth and finding a kindred spirit celebrating her situation, Mary then sang her song of belief and praised God.
Sometimes, I just don't know how to praise, but I have found if I follow the prayers and praises modeled in Scripture I can.
From Mary, I learned that in order to magnify the ETERNAL ONE, I should do these things.
1. Acknowledge His worth.
2. Proclaim His past deeds.
3. Remember His mercy.
4. Honor His character.
5. Celebrate His generational exploits.
6. Sing His praises.
If I just trust the process, I discover my feelings catch up. None of these in the immediate changed the situation. Mary would still know persecution, ridicule, humiliation; well, she would suffer alot. I imagine she would mess up in the process, too. She was human after all. But Mary chose to focus her mind on the One who could help her and based on history, HE did. Jesus was born and He grew in wisdom and in stature in favor with God and man. Mary made it through it all and now we call her blessed.
The praise changed her. It is where eternal strength enabled.
Maybe, we should find ways to magnify the ETERNAL ONE in our moments of suffering and give HIM praise!
