Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

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Read

Luke 1:46-55 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

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 powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

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Reflect

According to many news sources, the world is a loud place than it was 50, 25, and even 10 years ago. With 95 percent of the US population having cell phones, music, videos, and conversations are regularly at our fingertips creating more noise in our lives. Think about it, have you been in a room that all of a sudden got quite and you got uncomfortable? It’s because we aren’t used to the lack of noise in our lives.

However, noise isn’t always bad. When we find Mary, we find her making noise. But the good kind. Not that kind to down out other things but the kind that connects her to God. She is explaining all of the things God is to her and what God has done for her in the scary and uncertain time. We find ourselves in this all of the.

So, what kind of noise are you creating? Are you creating noise that causes other people to make more noise to drown you out or are you creating noise that brings people closer to God? Take a few moments to re-read today’s scripture and reflect on the kind of noise you want to make as we ring 2020.

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Pray

God the world is loud. As a part of this world you have created, help me make good noise. To build people up and empower them with my noise instead of causing noise that others want to drown out. Amen.

Go with God!