Luke 1:46-55(KJV)
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
God chose Mary for a prime Divine assignment, and her response to Heaven’s kind gesture was a new song. Traditionally known as the Magnificat from Latin, which means magnify or glorify, these verses are Mary’s jubilant response to the announcement that she will be the mother of the Messiah. The Magnificat is a poem of praise to God; in it, Mary recounts the faithfulness of God to her and the nation of Israel. Mary rejoices in her salvation as a grateful recipient of God’s grace. She acknowledges that God’s mercy has extended to the Israelites for generations. She was overwhelmed and praised God for picking her for His great purpose. In other words, Mary praises God for His mighty and wondrous acts on behalf of His people. She thanked God, recognizing that her daily provision comes from His Hand. Mary shows us that recounting the great things God has done for us is a way to express praise, leading us to rejoice.
Praise, in most cases, is an unrehearsed outburst of thanksgiving by grateful children of God. God created us to praise Him. Therefore, our praise must be impulsive and sincere to Him. Impetuous praise is unforced or unplanned. It is involuntary and not premeditated, manipulated, or orchestrated. It is an authentic and personal expression of a grateful heart and wonder-filled life encountered by the Holy God. When we know God and have experienced Him intimately, we sing powerful praises to Him! We sing songs of praise to God because we are overwhelmed by His greatness, lovingkindness, and goodness to us. We sing new songs to God each time we experience unbelievable provision, unimaginable and divine healing, great victories, and all kinds of miracles. For example, Judges 5 chronicles the Song of Deborah and Barak. When God gave His children victory over their enemies, they composed and sang those songs to Him. As we praise Him, Heaven will open the Book of Remembrance concerning us and give us new songs.
Beloved, the most important service you can render to our Creator, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, is your continual sacrifices of praise. It is because God inhabits the praises of His saints. So, let your praise to Him be sincere and unforced. Sing praises to His Holy Name as you contemplate God’s immeasurable love and mercy. Consider God’s goodness this Christmas season as you reflect on the year. In doing so, you may create a song of gifted beauty with your words of praise. List the ways God has blessed you this year and reflect on them. Take time to recount God’s blessings upon you and your family and appreciate Him. Today, sing a new song to the Lord for His wondrous, marvelous, and unsearchable things without number. Choose to walk in the joy of the Lord. Enjoy the times you have to praise our God, both privately and publicly. Develop the habit of praising Him; as you do this, His glory and power will be evident in all your circumstances. As you praise the Lord, He shall pick and use you for His great and mighty works to demonstrate His Almightiness in Jesus’ Name! Allow nothing to stop your praise to God. Remember, praise is a secret to the goodness and abundance of God!
O Lord, clothe me with the garment of praise. Help me praise You at all times in Jesus’ Name.