Verse of the Day for December 21

Mary has just travelled into the hill country to see Elizabeth. She is young, pregnant, and not yet married, with a story most people in Nazareth would not believe. And this is what comes out of her mouth: My soul doth magnify the Lord.

Her joy is not floating. It has its feet in the dust of her real situation. he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. She does not pretend to be important. She knows exactly how small she is, and that is what amazes her.

Regarded means looked at, noticed. God saw a girl from a village nobody respected and chose her. Her rejoicing is the joy of someone who has been seen.

There is a kind of spiritual joy that tries to rise above life. Mary's does the opposite. It stays on the ground and finds God there, in the low estate, with the gossip and the long road to Bethlehem still ahead of her.

This week, in the queue at the supermarket or on a crowded bus, remember you are seen. You do not have to feel big for God to look at you. Let your soul magnify him from exactly where you are standing.

Grounded joy does not deny the low estate. It finds God in it.

You are regarded, even in the queue.