Luke 1:50-51

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

Mary’s song is amazing to me. I love to hear her heart as she ponders being blessed by God to carry His Son…wow, even thinking about that blows my mind! Can you imagine being the mother of God’s Son? The Savior of the world…me neither!

Here she speaks of the mercy of those who fear God…that it extends from generation to generation. Then, she counters that with those who are proud in their inmost thoughts…they are scattered. One line of blessing we see unifies and ties together generations upon generation. The other is scattered.

That is something for us to ponder today. Do we have pride in our inmost thoughts? It doesn’t say that the ones who were scattered were simply those who were obviously outwardly prideful. It reminds us that God sees our inmost hearts and thoughts and He must be first there. It’s easy many times for us to seem humble on the outside. Many of us in church have learned to play the game really well. We seem to be full of humility.

But, God looks on the heart while man is focused on the outward appearance. I want to be humble on the inside. In those thoughts no one ever hears or sees. I can’t say that’s true of me yet. There are still so many times that my first thought is myself. When I get irritated with something silly…I am mad because it is an inconvenience for my schedule. When I get angry over a comment…I am simply offended that everyone doesn’t think highly of me. When I judge someone in my mind…I am putting myself above him or her.

Pride is a sneaky thing that most of us deal with on a daily basis. Prideful people aren’t the ones who see mercy visit generation upon generation of their families. They are scattered and alone. That is NOT the heritage that I would want for my family. Mary didn’t want that either. She praised God that He gave mercy to those who feared Him and that the mercy He gave would not only be for her…but for generations through the birth, death, and ressurection of the baby boy she was carrying.

That is where mercy is found…in the holy blood of Christ shed for a lost and dying world…a world full of pride. A world that was scattered and torn by sin. A world that hated Him and refused to give up their own agenda and pride to embrace a Messiah of lowly position here on earth.

Lord, don’t let me live in pride. May I follow closely the steps of Jesus…filled with mercy not only for myself, but mercy on the generations to come. May my life be one that draws my family and friends into mercy found only in the blood of Jesus Christ…my beautiful Savior. You are worthy of all my inmost thoughts…may they be filled with the wonder of Your mercy moment by moment. May Your mercy leave no room for petty thoughts of me. I love you Jesus!

Luke 1:46-49

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

In this passage, Mary understands that she is a servant of God and knows that God has been mindful of her. How wonderful to know today that no matter what is going on in your life…that God is mindful of you! I take great comfort knowing that God is mindful of me through my trials, challenges, sinful actions, and in my rejoicing. He is always there and has never turned His back or His mind away from me.

The amazing thing is that He does the same for you…all at the same time! What an amazing God we serve!!! I can’t imagine being mindful of more than one thing at a time…and many times I can’t even keep my mind of that. But, God’s mind is on each of our lives from generation to generation. That just blows my small mind away!

Today, take great comfort in the God who is mindful of you. He is mindful of our state no matter what that looks like today. Just because our lives are filled with challenges, trials, and tears it doesn’t mean that He has forgotten us or what is going on in our lives. Think about the life of Jesus. Did He ever for one moment forget about His precious Son? No way! But, Jesus’ life was filled with challenges and eventually death on a cross for our sins. We must fellowship in the trials and sufferings of our Master if we are to know what it means to be a Christian.

Take everything to Him today and know that He is mindful of you…because He loves

Luke 1:45

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary not only heard what the Lord said through the angel…but she BELIEVED that it would be accomplished. As we discussed this together this morning, we all agreed that we should make sure we are not just storing up knowledge and information about God in our minds. Many times in our daily time with God (or not so daily) we may never truly HEAR what God is saying to us. We just clock our time and move on about our day completely unchanged.

Mary not only took in the information, she truly believed that it would be accomplished in her life. There is a vast difference in just knowing and BELIEVING God’s Word. Believing changes us every single day of our lives! Believing changes the way we think, act, and feel. It never leaves us the same…ever! God is constantly using His Word and the Holy Spirit in us to make us more like Christ. There’s never a day in my life…or a moment for that matter…that God thinks I am just fine the way I am and leaves me alone for that day!!! No way!!!

Take a look at how you are interacting with God’s Words to you. Perhaps you have not made spending time with Him a part of your life at all. Jesus was the Word made flesh…and the Holy Spirit never speaks anything other than what God has already spoken in His Word. They never contradict each other! God’s Word is what Jesus told Satan that He lived on…and we should too!

Start today with the Bible. Begin making time to hear from God each day of your life. It’s awesome!!! If you already spend daily time in God’s Word…take a look and see if you truly BELIEVE what He says will be accomplished and that it is TRUTH in your life. If not, begin praying for God to show you areas of unbelief and ask Him to change that in you. He will do it!

Luke 1:39-24

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

Today, as our family talked about this passage this morning we thought about how through the gift of Jesus not only was Mary blessed…but we too are blessed! What a wonderful thing to reflect on this morning. So much of our day is spent “trouble-shooting.” We must work on our marriage, parenting, our job performance, our relationships with friends and family, keeping up with our homes, homework, sports, hobbies, and on the list goes. We are flat worn out most days!

That is why it is CRUCIAL to spend time in God’s Word every morning…to place your day before Him and allow His focus for today to become yours as well. Each morning He will share TRUTH with you. The lies of this world and the values that it crams down our throats 24 hours a day must be put up against God’s Truth. When God’s Word becomes our standard and the wellspring we drink from to quench our thirst and the manna that we feast on, then we will know TRUTH from lies.

Today that TRUTH is that you are blessed beyond measure in Christ if He is your Lord and Savior today. Look at this verse in Ephesians 1:3 –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

Truth tells us that we are blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing IN Christ today and every day! He blesses us with lasting blessings like peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, love, joy, patience…and so much more! That is TRUTH today. You are BLESSED in Christ!

Start your day with God’s Word so that His voice of TRUTH is clear to you. Perhaps a good look at our schedules, priorities, and the way we invest these 24 hours we are given each day is in order. If we are faithful in our time with Him…He promises us every spiritual blessing through Christ. What a way to start your day!!!

Luke 1:34-38

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"


The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.


The angel didn't give her all the answers I'm sure her mind and heart were asking. Questions like...

What do you mean I'm having the Son of God?

What about Joseph?

Doesn't God know that people will say I've committed adultery?

Does He care that I could be stoned to death?

How will I tell my parents?

What will everyone think of this baby?

What in the world is happening to me?

Those are only a FEW of the questions I would be asking in my heart and mind right at that moment...or I might just be in shock! Can you imagine hearing that you were going to have the Holy Spirit come upon you and power of the Most High OVERSHADOW you? I can't even begin to imagine what Mary's thoughts were at this moment.

But, when she asked the only question about her being a virgin...the angel reminds her that with God NOTHING is impossible! Isn't that the best news?

Today, we are all up against things in our lives that from the outside might seem impossible. There may not seem like any way out. You have more questions than answers and you wonder what in the world is going on. Take comfort today in this conversation between Mary and Gabriel. Know that God reminds each of us through this story...and the story of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist...that NOTHING is impossible with God.

I'm so grateful for that Truth today! Even when it seems like we face the impossible...we serve the MOST HIGH GOD! Praise Him for that today...and cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you.

Luke 1:32

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."’

I love this verse because it recounts the promises and prophesies of God about Jesus. It reminds us that He will come from the house and line of David and that He will be the ruler of the house of Jacob forever! It recounts and reminds us that God’s promised Messiah was truly to come.

In my daily life today, it will give me great comfort and assurance to be reminded of the sovereign plans of God. Even when I don’t understand how the promises all throughout God’s Word will come to pass, I can believe in faith that they will! Just as for generations, men like Jacob, Abraham, and David were told that a Messiah would come and set the people of free…they never saw it in their lifetime. But, they believed in God and placed their faith in Him and His promises! Hebrews 11:13-16 tells us…

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

Today’s verses remind me of the wonderful promises of God filling His Word. There are so many things that I have not seen come to pass in my own lifetime yet…but I live by faith that if God promises them it will happen…through the gift of Jesus Christ all things are possible for those who believe!

Luke 1:29-31

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”

Today, I want for you to meditate on the name of Jesus. What does it mean to you? Look over these verses and allow the grace, mercy, power, and glory of the name of Jesus wash over you today. May we never tire of thinking on this name!

Matthew 1:20-23
"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."– A Name that saves us from our sins…and allow God to be with us!

Acts 3:16
“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” – A Name that heals!

Acts 21:13
“Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."’ – A Name that is better than life!

Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – A Name that never condemns!

Romans 10:9
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – A Name that saves!

Ephesians 1:3
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” – A Name that blesses!

Philippians 2:8-11
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – A Name that is worthy of all praise and glory!