The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him. —Psalm 22:26
When God puts challenging circumstances in our lives, we either worship or whine. I’m ashamed to say I’ve done more than my share of whining—even about ministry. “Oh, Lord, I’m tired of traveling. This is hard! Why do I have to deal with that person?”
I am reminded of the Israelites in the wilderness who murmured incessantly. “If only we had died in this wilderness!” they whined (Num. 14:2). One day God finally said, in essence, “You want to die in the wilderness? Okay, you’ll die in the wilderness!” (vv. 28–30). Be careful what you murmur—God may take you up on it.
But when Mary faced a change in plans, she responded in worship: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46–47). So begins her Magnificat—one of the greatest hymns of praise ever lifted to heaven. She worshiped God for His wonderful acts, for His mercy, and for choosing her to be a part of His great redemptive plan.
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Portrait of a Woman Used by God: Lessons from the Life of Mary of Nazareth
©2001, 2015, 2020
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Make a choice to worship God in honest praise no matter what circumstances you’re currently going through.