Luke 1:46-55
Pretty much every time I read Mary's song of praise (Luke 1:46-55), I'm impressed and amazed with Mary's beautiful heart and attitude (and I do mean BEAUTIFUL). Her situation was downright scary. After all she was pregnant and not married in Bible times! Yes, she knew the prophecy about the Messiah and after her visit from Gabriel she knew she was a huge part of that...even so, in my mind, not knowing the details of how things were going to happen or play out had to be a little unsettling. So what do we see from Mary? Absolute praise, absolute thanksgiving for God selecting her to be part of His plan and, most importantly, absolute confidence in God.
Oh to be like Mary! So let's talk about that. When the unexpected hits or our plans don't play out quite like we'd like, how can we respond like Mary? What are some things you do to keep your focus on God when the going gets rough? Tami W.
My husband is a marathoner and he knows that the only way to make 26.2 miles under 2 hours is to put in miles and miles before. i can only imagine Mary spent time each day, and probably a lot, in prayer and fellowship and study. For me, i never handle trials as easily when i've been relaxed in my prayer, fellowship and study. i was wondering, since the women at the time were considered property and not allowed in the Synagogs does anyone know about their fellowship and studied?
My life has taken a number of unexpected, difficult and challenging twists and turns. Whenever I have looked back on a rough stretch of road, I've been amazed at how God led me through it. The path ahead
was dark and utterly unknown, but God opened a way through it for me. Even when my choices were not always good, He brought me back on track. I could never have planned my life to be what it has become.
Now, as I'm in my senior years, and I wonder what my next move will be, I remind myself not to worry.
God already has it planned out and all I really have to do is follow. But we don't know far ahead.
Like Corrie ten Boom once said," God gives us our ticket when we need it, not long in advance."
Yes, I do speculate and wonder and become informed about what the options are, Only God knows what
will happen with our health, which of us will be the surviving spouse and where He wants us to live out the last days/years of our life. I continue to trust in the One who knows and is faithful.
The Lord has blessed me throughout my faith journey. When I became serious for Him, I attended seminary which I graduated from about 2 years ago. I was set for military chaplaincy for I have served in the military many years on active duty as well as a reservist. I felt God's call, had brothers that agreed, and had events work out to enable me to attend. I have experienced medical problems fairly regularly since then. At this time, my back has required two surgeries to correct a problem with my disks. I am no longer physically qualified to serve in the military. This has upset my plans obviously yet a different path has not yet been made apparent. I have agreed with my wife in prayer to keep working in the small things. Areas of ministry that appear I try to take but right now I am healing from surgery from about 2 weeks ago. I have purposed before God and my family to remain faithful to Him where I am now and to accept new ministry opportunities as they come.
If God will bring us to it, he will bring us through it.
This has resonated with me recently, having faith that he knows what is best for my life. There is the temptation to rush into things and to try to solve everything myself. Having faith is about having patience and knowingbthat Gods timing is perfect. This is something we know in hindsight but struggle to remember in the present.
I think the best way to keep focus on God is to purposely give Him my time each day. This is one area where I have struggled recently. Rather than blame it on work, the season, or anything else, I own up to the fact that I have failed to submit myself wholly to Him.
I think Mary (and Joseph), although imperfect humans, were people who more often than not actually followed through in giving God their time.
I cannot change the past, but I can commit to working on my relationship with God. Starting now!!
Faith, and prayer, and God's Word, and more faith!! Without Him, there is no hope at all. With Him, we can be certain - not that we won't have hard times - but that He loves us completely and we will be with Him not only today but for eternity.
The first thing I do is turn to scripture. In this case it turns out to be : Not my will but God's will. Jesus used these words when He felt overwhelmed.
Mary praised God. Her future was uncertain. She knew God did something big in her life, but she didn't know what the outcome would be.
How beautiful is that that she praised God. I'm learning that in the midst of the storms of life, praise is one of the things we should do to get us through the storms. God inhabits the praise of his people. It isn't always easy to praise God when the storms are raging, but I've found that it's a choice I make even when I don't feel like it. Prayer is another thing that gets me through, along with seeking his face through the Word of God.
For the last 6 weeks, God has brought me through the most difficult time of my life. I look back and marvel at how God brought me through it.
It reminds me of the scripture of when David had to encourage himself. He thought about what God brought him through. David knew that if God did it then, he will continue to do it. He promised that he would never leave us nor forsake us, and that if we trusted him (and even when I fail to), he never lets me down.