When our spirit is born again, we are given the ability to enjoy the gift of praising God despite tough circumstances.
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How does this work?
Well, when God is the dominant part of our life, His presence puts our circumstances in perspective.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave us a great example of this.
In a culture in which the Mosaic law dictated she should be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:23-24) for being pregnant outside of marriage, Mary praised God in what is known as The Magnificat.
Mary’s circumstances should have crushed her — but when we read her words of praise, there is no doubt her relationship with God was so real that He was her greatest circumstance.
She wrote: “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. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:46-53).
Her song of praise rings down through the ages.
Why?
Because her relationship with God allowed her to see her circumstances through the eyes of faith — rather than in the blindness of human sight.
How about us?
We will never be able to live completely for God’s glory until our most important circumstance is God’s presence.
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His presence makes all the difference in our circumstances.
His presence allows us to live for the great purpose for which we were created.
Mary knew this — and that is why she could sing His praises in the face of death.
“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7).
Praising God is a gift that keeps us living the purpose for which we were created.
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