How To Have A Song In Your Heart This Christmas Series

How To Have A Song In Your Heart

She was a very young girl – when the angle Gabriel came to her. No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the savior of the world.

Have you noticed what has happened in our worship services over the past couple weeks? How the music has changed? Around this time of the year we change the music and start singing songs like: O Little town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World. In fact we know that Christmas is getting closer when we hear the songs being played. As Jesus gets closer and closer we can have a song in our hearts.

Did you know Mary had a song too? It is found in Luke 1:46-55.

46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever." Luke 1:46-55 (NKJV)

*SHE HAD A SONG OF PRAISE

The focus of Mary’s praise is God.

9 times she uses the word - He

6 times she uses the word - His

She also uses words like Lord, God, and Savior

Let me tell you something about praise. When you are praising God – there is no time for a pity party. Praise always moves you out of negativity, for praise focuses on the positive.

v. 46-49

“My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

Let me tell you – if anyone had a right to have a pity party it was Mary. Young, pregnant, single. Can you hear the gossip? Can you image the stories?

But notice what she does - Let the singing begin:

- I don’t have to defend myself.

- I don’t have to explain my situation.

- I don’t have to understand it.

God is in control.

Praise the Lord!

There is no scandal.

There is no shame.

There is no fear

There is praise.

*SHE HAD A SONG OF PURPOSE

God does nothing without a purpose. Look at the verbs in verses 51-53.

“He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good thing, and the rich He has sent away empty.”

- scattered the proud

- put down the mighty

- exalted the lowly

- filled the hungry

These are the actions of God. God is in the middle of the situation. God is in control. *God has a purpose for what is happening.

The song is not about Mary – although she played a major role in this drama. The song is about God – He is breaking into history.

His purpose will be fulfilled. His plan will come to pass. Whatever is going on in your life – guess what – it’s not about you. It’s about God wanting to break into your life. Into you home. Into your holiday. Into you heart. God has a purpose for you. God has a purpose for what you are going through – He wants to be in the middle of you life. He doesn’t want your problems to be the center of your life. He doesn’t want your circumstances to be the center of your life. He doesn’t want your situation to be the center of your life. God - Himself - wants to be the center of your life.

Are you letting Him?

v.37 “Nothing is impossible with God.”

She was a very young girl – when the angle Gabriel came to her. No one would have paid any attention to her because she wasn’t wealthy or important. She was a simple peasant girl living in a small insignificant village. Had she died, probably few would have noticed – except for one thing. God chose her to be the mother of the savior of the world.