Luke 1:68-68

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people."

What amazing faith Zechariah had! Jesus has not even been born yet, but He is filled with the Holy Spirit and sharing the redemption of God's people! What faith...I pray for that kind of faith in my own personal life. I pray that I can stand firmly on the Rock of my salvation and trust the His Word is the satisfaction of my soul!

I want to share with you a picture of what salvation means to us...in the words of Charles Spurgeon. I read his book "Morning and Evening" each day and today was a perfect compliment to the verses we had in our family devotion this morning.

"Salvation is of the Lord." Jonah 2:9

Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both "Alpha and Omega." "Salvation is of the Lord."

If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because he upholds me with his hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone.

Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me.

All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation."

Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink?

Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: "Salvation is of the Lord."

Oh, what a good word this morning from my brother...and what a blessing to hear Zechariah's heart of faith. I pray today that each of us will understand the true meaning of our salvation. I pray that it was not simply a one time event...but we see how it weaves it's fiber into every part of our lives. What a reminder to me, that if I hunger and feed on His Word, that it is such a precious gift from Him every morning. Let's not take our salvation as common place, but rejoice in humility at the Christ who redeemed his people!

I can't even begin to thank Him for my salvation. Each day He is pouring the reality of salvation into my heart. He is breaking the bonds of unbelief and giving me wings of faith!!

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said,
"No! He is to be called John."
They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John."

Many times in our lives God asks us to do things that do not make any sense to those around us. They look at the decisions we make and the ways we live, and they think we are crazy! They look at our lives through eyes of common sense and logic...while we are called to live a life of faith.
Look at the very definition of faith Hebrews 11:1 -

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Being certain of what you do not see? Our world doesn't think that is such a good idea. But, we are called to please God through our faith and not the logic we display according to the world around us.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

WOW! I want to be full of that kind of foolishness! I want to know the power of God in the foolishness of the cross. But, so many Christians want their lives to make "sense" to those around them. They want to have a logical reason for the decision they are making. They want God to "back them up" on the things they are doing. They don't want to look like a fool.

But, that is our call. Corinthians assures us when we make our life decisions based on the cross...they WILL be foolish to those who are perishing around us. But, to those who are saved...they should be seeing the power of God! Many times, we as Christians, are wearing eyes of the perishing.

Last night we had the honor of having dinner with friends who are stepping out on faith in a huge way. People around them are buzzing...and "not all of it good" is being told to them. We can understand their journey. We have had to check pride at the door more and let go of looking together in front of people. It's not fun...but God will bless you in mighty ways!

If you are not hearing Him correctly...He will change you! If you are hearing Him correctly...He will guide you in it and through it. But, focus on His voice and obey it. Zechariah heard God's voice and did not believe it at first. After months of silence, He put aside his doubts and acted in faith. He named his son John, though everyone around him could not make any sense of that decision.

I pray today that you will listen closely to the message of the cross. I pray that you and I will check pride at the door and follow this Jesus wherever He leads. May we never be found judging each other with the heart of the perishing, but embracing the foolishness of the cross!

Luke 1:57-58

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

Ladies, this one is for us! So many times in our lives we are so discouraged about our own lives, marriages, children, parenting, finances, jobs, and friendships that when someone sees a HUGE move of God in their lives we have a hard time sharing their joy. When a friend or family member comes to us with great news of God's amazing mercy in their lives which is blessing them beyond anything they could think or imagine...many of us tend to put on a good front of joy...but inside we are jealous.

We think about our own lives and wonder where God is in OUR lives! We huff a little and puff a little and hope that no one will notice our lack of real JOY for them. I have been a female for about 35 years...and have been around women for the past 15 years enough to know that we deal with a hefty dose of jealousy. It's not that we don't want to be happy for those around us who are seeing God's blessing shower all over them in amazing ways...it's just that WE want some of those blessings ourselves.

This all stems from the fact that we are just not satisfied in our own lives. We are not filled to overflowing. We are starving and slain with thirst...and when someone walks by with a steak and a Diet Coke from God...our tummies cramp and our mood darkens.

But, ladies there is a way that we can ALL be satisfied...every SINGLE day of our lives!!! Jesus knew the way and He shared it with all people in Matthew 4:4-

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

A healthy diet of God's Word each day will fill our souls to the fill line and even more! Then, and only then, can we truly rejoice with those around us. Because we have our identity sealed in Christ and His Word to us, we are able to rejoice with those around us and find the joy in God's great mercy! What a gift!

Today, look at your own life. Do you deal with jealousy? If you were Elizabeth's neighbors would you truly be able to SHARE in her joy? What about those around you? Are you able to share in the mercy God is showing them in their lives?

Look closely at your self today and ask God to show you any traces of jealousy. We want to be so full of God's Word in our lives and we can't wait to hear about the blessings He is sharing with those around us! What a better way to spend our time. I

Luke 1:54-56

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

God remembers His Word! He never forgets what He has promised…ever. Yesterday, I had the joy of talking with a lady who came over to my house in the afternoon to share the challenges that are going on in her life and ministry right now. I must admit, I had no idea what to say in the way of wisdom. But, God did!

God’s Word is the answer for all of our lives…even when we can’t even find the questions among all the chaos. As we sat together for hours, the one thing that stayed constant was God’s Words. He has made so many promises in Christ to us as believers, and He has not forgotten them…not a single one! What He has said He will do.

But, the problem arises when we start to put our own spin on His Word. We want things our way in our time frame…at least I do many times. We must be immersed in His Word each day (without an agenda) and allow it to transform our MINDS! We want to hear and apply God’s Word as He designed it, and not how WE want it.

Today, you can take comfort in the fact that God always remembers His Word and does what He says. Perhaps there are areas of your life today in which you simply don’t believe that statement. You can’t agree with Mary as she praises God for remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendents forever as He said He would. Maybe there are things in your life that you feel God just hasn’t kept His Word to you on.

Talk with God about those things. Go to His Word and surrender your timetable, opinions, and agenda. Allow God’s Word to change YOU…not the other way around. Allow God to speak Truth into those areas and I know that He will show you each day how He has and always will be true to His Word. He does remember everything that He has promised and said…forever!

Luke 1:52-53

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

OK, I just LOVE this set of verses! It is so true that God has filled the hungry with GOOD things!!! In my life, I spent most of my time searching for things to satisfy the hunger in my soul. Jesus was my Savior, but I had not truly found that God could FILL my hunger with GOOD things. I went about my day filling myself on the acceptance of others, the love of my husband, my ministries, my children, family, stuff, books, knowledge, and the list could go on and on.

I was quite rich in my own eyes! I had gorged myself on the things of this world and even the things of the church, but found myself extremely HUNGRY every single day of my life. Then, one day almost 7 years ago I began to feast on God’s Word EVERY day! These verses finally came true in my life. I put away the “riches” of this world and began to be filled with God’s RICHEST foods.

David understood this and has been my example for years as he said:

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

He understood the richest of foods was the very presence of God in his life! He sought Him with everything he had…body and soul…and found the richest of foods for his SOUL.

Mary echoes what David says in her song. She knows that when we seek the riches of this world (and I’m not just talking money and stuff) we will not be able to truly know how God can fill your soul. My soul is filled every single day that I meet with God over His Word and seek Him in prayer. I can stand beside Mary and David and confirm once again that His Word is the satisfaction of our souls!

I pray today that your souls are satisfied in Christ. Spend time in God’s Word today and taste of the richest of foods for your soul.

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