“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of His servant.’” Luke 1:46-48
And so begins the Magnificat of Mary in response to Elizabeth’s acknowledgment of her blessedness.
Do you acknowledge how the Lord God has blessed you and looked upon your “lowly estate”? Do you give Him thanks and proclaim His goodness? We must always be mindful of the good He does for us because Satan is always lurking around to cause us despair despite all the blessings we receive.
I often get a bit down when I think about not doing my “full twenty” in the Army, about not getting the pension. It would have put us on Easy Street for life, but what would it have cost me to do another seven years: my faith, my calling, my relationship with Marie, my life even? No one can say. Pension or not, God has provided for me - he has blessed me with a good wife, a home, and a great congregation: small but mighty Zion Lutheran.
May my soul always magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoice in God my Savior. He has blessed me well with the blessings of salvation through Christ Jesus and sustains me daily. I do not doubt He will continue to do so until He calls me home.
Bless the Lord always, for He is good.
Prayer: Lord God, I give you thanks and praise for your continued goodness and for the things in life that have caused me to trust you more deeply. Keep me in faith and help me to exalt you always. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.