The Power Within // Luke 1:46-47

By Mark Jordan

Luke 1:46-47 (NIV) | And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior....”

Today’s passage comes from opening line of Mary’s Song, also known as The Magnificat. It struck me anew when I read it today about how her inner world was glorifying and rejoicing in God. I am sure she also felt some trepidation since being a young, unwed girl would be scandalous for her, her parents, and her betrothed, Joseph. Mary found it key to focus on God’s promise as opposed to her problem; after all, the Savior of humanity was developing and growing in her womb. I think it was the power of God within her that gave her the courage to faithfully and obediently do what God called her to do. I want to close with a beautiful passage from Philippians 4:6-7 in The Message, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Mary literally had God at the center of her life, and her obedience made it possible for us all to find new life in Christ. That power within is mighty, my friends, so let’s focus on that as we get closer and closer to Christmas!