I wrote my first song when I was 19 years old. I remember how nervous I was to play and sing it in front of people for the first time. My hands shook, and my voice could barely sing the lyrics. I felt crippled by an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy. I kept thinking to myself, “If only I was older and wiser, then surely I would feel worthy to be on this stage.”
Now, here I am decades later, still sharing songs and feeling just as inadequate as I did then, if not more so. But I have learned this secret that makes all the difference in the world: The songs I lift to God have nothing to do with my worthiness but everything to do with His worthiness.
One of the oldest and holiest hymns in the history of Christianity was spoken and captured by a young Hebrew girl named Mary. Her life was forever altered when an angel visited her and told her that she was chosen to be the mother of God. It is easy to imagine how inadequate Mary must have felt hearing this from the angel.
In Luke 1:46-55, what is referred to as the Magnificat, we read her response. We have no reason to believe Mary was aware her words would be remembered by anyone, much less that they would be recorded in God’s Word. Rather than questioning her adequacy and suggesting to this celestial messenger how unprecedented or inconvenient this might be for her, she responded in complete submission: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Mary’s response to this invitation reflects a life of yielding to the glory of God. Her fuller response is beautifully captured in her song:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his name (Luke 1:46-49).
As the passage continues, Mary recounts wonderful deed after wonderful deed, reflecting on God’s faithfulness and commitment to the people of Israel.
As we consider just these first few verses, what do we see about Mary’s song that might inspire a similar song in us? What do we learn about Mary’s heart that might encourage our own hearts today?
First, the purpose of our lives is to magnify our God. Mary knew this. She had been raised in a God-honoring home. Her family had diligently kept the Passover her whole life, and she understood what it meant to be part of a chosen people, set apart to represent God. But more than just representing her God, Mary wanted her soul to magnify the Lord. Echoing the song of King David, Mary proclaims that she too wants her entire being to be used to tell God’s redemptive story and to proclaim the amazing works he has done.
When we consider Mary’s song, we must ask ourselves, “What does my life magnify?” When someone leaves my presence after spending an hour or two with me, are they stirred from the conversation we shared to reflect on God’s greatness? Or do I too often magnify the woes of this life, the busyness of my schedule, and the anxiety of living in a broken world?
I don’t believe Mary had a pain-free life by any means. But, in her song, Mary chooses joy and gratitude. Mary chooses to magnify God by rejoicing in God her Savior. It is not her worthiness that she clings to but God’s worthiness.
Second, the posture of our lives must be humility. Mary refers to her humble estate, recognizing how odd it was that the Maker of the Universe would choose a lowly commoner to bring him into the very world he created. Mary also refers to herself as the Lord’s servant. What does it mean for Mary, and for us, to live as a servant of the Lord?
The Apostle Paul serves as another illustration of one who often boasts of his newfound identity as a servant of Christ. How is he able to rejoice in such a lowly title? Paul did not consider his servitude to Christ as restrictive or demeaning, but rather freeing and purposeful. Paul had known what it meant to be captive to religiosity. Paul now rejoices in the freedom found in being released from those chains and becoming a servant of Christ.
Do we, like Mary and like Paul, see that life apart from serving Jesus is void of meaning or purpose? Are we humbled to a place of gratitude and dependence, resting on Jesus’ worthiness and not our own, when we consider all that the Lord has done for us?
Lastly, God’s plan for our lives is greater than our own. Mary exclaims that “from now on all generations will call me blessed.” This isn’t a statement of pride. Mary has already recounted her unworthiness. This statement is a recognition that God’s plan is much bigger than any plan she may have had for herself. It is unclear to what level Mary understood the impact of what was happening to her, but she was aware that God was calling her to something extraordinary. So, to those who sing, “Mary, did you know?”, the answer is undoubtedly yes!
God was inviting Mary to be part of His greater redemptive narrative. Have you ever experienced the clear calling to step into God’s plan, to play a role that He has uniquely designed for you? Like Mary, God’s call on our lives doesn’t always come at a convenient time or with a full set of blue prints. Are we willing to join him anyway, to step out in faith? It’s not our worthiness that impacts generation upon generation, but God’s promise fulfilled through us!
As the song of Mary leads you through this Advent season, I pray that you will marvel at the Word that became flesh to dwell among us. I pray that you will behold the birth of Christ, fully God and fully man, and be in awe as the shepherds once were, overwhelmed by the thought of peace on earth and goodwill to men.
And most of all, I pray that you will surrender again your life to the God of Mary’s song, asking him to be magnified through all you say and do this Advent season. May we be bright lights shining for Christ’s glory, not because of our worthiness, but because of his!
Laura Story Elvington is a Bible teacher, worship leader, Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter, and bestselling author. She has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005.
Read the other articles in our Blessed Among Women series here:
Blessed Among Women: A New Series Celebrating the Witness of Mary