PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN ( Luke 2:19 ): You say here that “Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” I am not like this, unfortunately, Father. I often react and act on impulse and in the moment, which I feel is okay at times but oftentimes that is not what You expect of me in those moments. Please forgive me for my very impulsive nature, Father. Help me to be better at meditating on the things that are said to me and happen to/around me, so that I may be able to respond in a way that honors and glorifies You.
PROMISE ( Luke 2:26-32 ): In these verses, Simeon was promised by You that he would NOT see death until his eyes had a chance to see the Lord’s Messiah in person. This came to fruition just as You had promised him and he was able to not only see Jesus in-person, but also speak great words through the Holy Spirit over Him and with His earthly parents.
ATTITUDE ( Luke 2:19, 51 ): Twice in a single book, Mary is said to keep all these things in her heart and meditate on them. She is building up the amazing things that You are showing her in her life and instead of just flushing it out as coincidence or dismissing it altogether, she’s meditating on it all in her heart. I need to do this more often in my own life, Father. As I confessed before, I’m very much an impulsive person most of the time, which doesn’t give me any time whatsoever to seek the Holy Spirit’s counsel and wisdom on the topics. Help me to be better at keeping all these things in my heart as Mary did, Father.
COMMAND ( Luke 2:49 ): I find Jesus’ response to His earthly parents at 12 years of age a rather fascinating one, but one that I think I understand rather well because it applies not only to His earthly parents, but ALL who seek Him and Your truth, Father. Why do we struggle so much in our faith? I feel it’s because we are always searching and seeking for answers, control, desires of the flesh, etc. When we are in Your presence, answers become more clear. Although You are omnipresent, oftentimes we lose sight of You due to our own fleshly blinders. What Jesus is saying here is that He is at His Father’s house. When lost, seek the Father and His Son in the Father’s house and we will be found! WOW! That is such a powerful command to me. When I am lost, I need to seek You even more and You tell me exactly where You are in this single verse—the Father’s house!
EXAMPLE ( Luke 2:19, 51 ): Once again, You are giving such a powerful example to live by through Mary in Luke’s testimony about her, Father. She is a slave to You and she harbors all that You would show her in her heart to meditate on, to build her spirit up, and to strengthen her relationship with You. Help me to be more like Mary, Father. Remind me when I am not doing these things to help me get back on track and focused on You throughout everything.
*DAILY NOTE: Mary, Mary, Mary. I do not know why, but I see You are speaking to me quite loudly this week through Luke’s testimony on Mary, specifically. She walked such a faithful life from what I can tell, but also provides such great examples of how to live this life. Thank You for such a powerful conversation this morning, Father. I really do appreciate it.
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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