When I was in high school, my youth group hosted monthly nights of worship and communion in students’ homes. For awhile we met at mine. On a certain date each month my living room would be packed with forty or so high schoolers crammed into the small space like a bunch of sardines.  

People sat elbow to elbow and knee to knee, but when the music started no one seemed to notice. The entire room was engulfed in worship. We were lost in the lyrics and basking in the presence of God.

I can’t remember when these nights of worship stopped exactly, but somewhere along the way they got lost in the shuffle of school, work and hanging out.

Somewhere along the line life just got too busy and something had to go.  For some reason I was under the impression worship is something you do when you have time. Mary’s story is enough to show me I was wrong. 

As my friends and I used to cram into my living room and sing our hearts out to God, Mary sang her heart out to Him as well. Only hers was a unique and original song. 

“The Magnificat” as it is called (taken from the Latin word magnifies), consists of a handful of verses in Luke 1:46-55—and it tells us more about Mary’s life and heart than the rest of her story combined. Let’s take a look at it:

My soul exalts the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 

For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 

For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. 

And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.

He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble. 

He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed.  He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He Spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever. 

Mary was most likely illiterate, which to me makes her song truly amazing. There is so much packed into those few verses it is almost unbelievable. In this song Mary shows extensive knowledge of the Scriptures.

But what impresses me most is this girl—who scholars say could not read and did not have her own Bible—quoted portions of passages from Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah and referenced specifics of the covenant made to Abraham back in Genesis.

If Mary could not read, how on earth could she know these things? I’ve read them and they are not even that fresh in my own mind.

Think about this for a second, in order to know these Old Testament prophecies—and in order to have created this song—Mary had to pay attention intensely during her weekly visits to the synagogue because unless her father read the Scriptures to her during the week, the Sabbath would be her only exposure to them.

Imagine that—she had to memorize God’s Word by listening to it. That’s amazing. When was the last time you listened that closely in church?   

Mary’s story proves worship is not something that happens when you have time for it; it’s something that happens when you make time for it. The result is a natural outpouring of praise resulting from time spent with Jesus. Mary lived a life of undivided worship to God. Can we say the same about our lives today? When was the last time you praised God just because He is God?

In Psalm 86:11 the psalmist cries out, “Give me an undivided heart.” When was the last time you prayed a prayer like that and meant it?

The Magnificat was Mary’s way of praising God for what He was doing in her life—He was bringing the Messiah to the world, and He was using Mary to do it. How are you praising God for what He is doing in your life right now? Are you leaving behind a legacy of praise like Mary did? 

Excerpt taken from God Called a Girl. To order a copy click here.