Good morning. Today is Saturday, September 26th!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Luke 1:46

Here’s something fun about the Christmas story that almost sounds like it came out of a Disney movie.

Did you know Mary responds to everything happening to her with a song?

After Mary is told she will give birth to Jesus, she visits Elizabeth. And during that visit, Mary starts praising God in what we now call The Magnificat.

Here’s the whole song:

“My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”
— Luke 1:46–55 KJV

And there is a lot packed into that song.

Mary starts with herself. God noticed her in her “low estate.” She knows generations will call her blessed, but she immediately gives God the credit: “he that is mighty hath done to me great things.”

Then the song gets much bigger than Mary.

The proud are scattered. The powerful are brought down. The humble are lifted up. The hungry are filled. The rich are sent away empty.

And Mary herself fits that pattern. She isn’t a queen sitting in a palace. She calls herself God’s handmaiden, yet God has chosen her to give birth to Jesus.

Then she goes all the way back to Abraham.

Mary understands that what is happening to her is connected to promises God made generations earlier. Jesus hasn’t even been born yet, and Mary is already connecting His arrival to God’s promises to Israel.

And here’s another cool connection: Mary’s song sounds a lot like Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2. Hannah also sings about God lifting up the lowly, bringing down the powerful, and feeding the hungry.

So Mary’s response isn’t just a random song because she’s happy.

Her song is packed with Scripture, God’s character, Israel’s history, and promises that go back centuries.

Mary has just been told something that will completely change her life, and her response is basically:

Look at what God is doing. And look how long He’s been doing it.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, You are mighty, holy, and merciful.

Confession: Forgive us for our pride and for making life about ourselves.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for keeping Your promises and doing great things for us.

Supplication: Help us trust You and praise You like Mary did.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“My Soul Magnifies the Lord” by Chris Tomlin

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God