“And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.  But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59-60).

The turning point of this story is helpful to us.  Those outside the faith have expectations and they are laid upon us.  Well-meaning though they may be, it is not what will happen.  In those days, the word of the father was final.  Elizabeth was following the command of the Lord, but the culture of those days caused those around her to wonder what she was thinking.  Why would this first son not be named after the father?

Lord, I am very presumptuous and expect others to act the way I expect them to act.  Help me to be sensitive in the way You would have me be and be sensitive so that I do not act according to the way of the world, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to see those places where I am reacting with cultural things so that I may be sensitive to Your word when it calls me to do something else.

Lord Jesus, throughout Your ministry You showed care for others and were willing to break through the human customs of the day.  Help me to understand that I too need to break through those customs that hinder me from doing what You would have me do.  Aid me not to expect others to act the way I want, nor impose my understanding upon them.  Guide me to be a help to my neighbor.  Amen.

“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her” (Luke 1:57-58).

When obvious miracles happen, people rejoice.  Things happen that have more significance than we often realize. Scripture tells us to rejoice.  We are here reminded, whether or not we think it is significant, to rejoice in the work of the Lord.  The Lord has mercy for the whole world.  The Lord offers grace to those who believe so that we may learn how to rejoice in every circumstance.

Lord, I often spend more time complaining about circumstances than rejoicing in Your goodness.  Help me to understand that each day You grant is a miracle and that You are always at work in each of us.  Help me to rely upon Your Spirit as You speak to me so that I do not speculate upon what to do but walk in the way You are directing me.  Bring me out of myself to live life as it is to be lived.

Lord Jesus, help me to join in where my neighbor is living.  If they are weeping, help me to weep with them.  If they are rejoicing, remind me to rejoice with them.  In and through all things, lead me to be sensitive to those around me knowing that You will teach me what it means to truly love my neighbor.  Teach me all that I need to learn and grant me a willing heart to receive the teachings You give.  Amen.

“And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home” (Luke 1:56).

A significant amount of time was spent together for these two women who were carrying two significant people in the history of the world.  What happened during that time?  Beyond the obvious bonding of Mary and Elizabeth, we do not know.  Focus upon what the Lord does give us, not upon what we do not know.  We each experience many things and the Lord uses them to grow in us the Christ life.

Lord, help me to live the life You have given me.  There are many experiences I do not acknowledge as being anything significant, but You use all things to conform each of us to the new life we are given through grace.  Help me through the anxieties of this world so that I may learn how to live as You would have me live.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk by Your guidance.

Lord Jesus, we know very little about your first thirty years other than that You spent time growing up as we all do.  Help me to not focus on trying to learn what only speculation can answer; but instead focus upon what I can do.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go, spending time where I need to spend time and learning what it is that I need to be taught.  Amen.

“He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:54-55).

To the one who knows that God prevails, there is mercy upon mercy.  The promises of the Lord to all people will be fulfilled.  Those who, through faith, believe that God is Sovereign, will receive the sure hope of everlasting life.  God’s word has gone out and as many as believe will receive the promised redemption which has been granted through the coming of the Son.  He has accomplished the Father’s will.

Lord, with such simplicity You have shown over and over again Your love and mercy.  Help me to understand that it is not so much what I do, but who I am in You that will lead me out of the futile strivings of this age.  Guide me out of the way of thinking which depends upon my thoughts in order that I may receive Your word. Let the seed of Your word germinate and grow in me.

 Lord Jesus, You patiently went through a life of experiencing its various stages.  You were an infant, a toddler, an adolescent, a teenager, and then an adult.  You know what it is like to live a daily life like ours in this world.  Help me to understand that You have purpose in each stage of life as You grow in me Your image.  Guide me to follow You every step of the way as You lead me.  Amen.

“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” (Luke 1:52-53).

Who is it that moves history forward?  The proud ascend to their thrones and are then thrown down.  The haughty make oaths and declare their supremacy, but they too end up in the pit.  The rich have their fill but are poor inside.  What is it that you want?  Is it not the purpose for which You were created?  The Lord is Sovereign and it is His will that shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, You know how anxious I become over the state of things.  I see the insanity of this age and too often join in the constant celebration of the rich and haughty.  Lead me out of this world’s way of thinking to know that history is in Your hands.  You have called me to live into a new life which humbly follows You, going where You lead me.  Guide me so that I follow You and not the world.

Lord Jesus, You chose to be born in humble circumstances.  You have shown that it is not wealth or privilege which elevates us, but the mercy and grace which You have won for those who believe.  Lead me in this new way of living so that I may become increasingly like You as I live each day.  Guide me to know that in You alone do I have hope and an eternal future.  Amen.

“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” (Luke 1:50-51).

The mercy of the Lord abounds to all people, which is for those who will turn to Him knowing that He is the Lord of all. But there are those who come in the fear of the Lord and those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  You were wonderfully made, but you were not made only for yourself.  Your Creator calls you to Himself.  Sadly, there are those who turn in on themselves.

Lord, I see the difference.  Help me to understand very clearly that at any time any of us can enter into Your mercy, but many will turn away from You and set up themselves as the center of their being.  Lead me out of the mess of my mind to understand clearly that You are the Creator and I am the created.  There is only one kingdom and that is Your kingdom.  Lead me into Your kingdom.  Your kingdom come!

Come, Holy Spirit, and take me out of the proud thoughts I have in order that I may humbly live the life which is of Your creation.  Thank You for the abundant mercy You give which enables me to walk in Your presence.  Help me to learn what it means to live for others and not just for myself.  Guide me to become what You are leading me to become so that I may be a child of the heavenly Father.  Amen.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold,  this time on all generations will count me blessed.   “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name” (Luke 1:48-49).

The Mighty One, Creator of all things, who holds all together and knows everything has regard for the humble state of His bondslaves.  God is the God of love.  He cares for that which He has created.  He considers you and calls you to come into His presence.  Through you He can do mighty things, not least of which is bring you into His presence eternally.  Learn holiness from the One who is Holy.

Lord, my arrogance gets in the way, and I think I know what I do not know.  Help me to have an attitude that is willing to learn from You, the One who knows all things.  Guide me away from the arrogance that is all around me in this world to understand that I am Your bondslave.  I was born in bondage to sin, and You have paved the way for me to be freed from sin to know that I am always dependent upon You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set the captive free.  You provide all the grace I need that I may live into the life You have prepared and set before me.  Guide me so that I seek You first knowing that You alone are able to lead me in the way I need to go.  Lead me today, my Savior, through those obstacles which will come my way.  Help me to learn holiness from You.  Amen.  

“And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).

Does your soul exalt?  Do you rejoice?  In this time of constant busy-ness we often forget that there is the One who created all things and we forget to make time to be with Him.  God is the One who sustains us and God is the One who rescues us from the rebellion of this world.  Your spirit longs for what is right, the Lord is calling each of us into His presence where all is right and holy.  Come into the presence of the Lord.

Lord, You are Holy and great is Your majesty.  You have come to us and called us to learn what it means to exalt You,Your presence, and the gift of salvation.  You have come to teach us to rejoice in Your holiness, learning how to live lives that are holy even as You are holy.  We are physical beings, but we are also spiritual beings.  Come, minister to my spirit and teach me to exalt You and rejoice in Your salvation.

Salvation Incarnate, Jesus my Savior, You have come to lead the way into holiness.  Guide me now and always in the way of everlasting life such that I learn from You what it means to seek holiness.  Help me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly bow when I discover those places where I am neither in Your holiness, nor rejoicing in Your salvation.  Lead me to live into the life to which You are calling me.  Amen.  

“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.  And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:44-45).

The sound reached my ears, and I heard and there was a response.  Is this not the reality of the Gospel reaching out to one who believes?  It either bounces off of the one to whom it comes, or else it goes in and begins its work of mercy and grace.  This is an ordinary event wrapped up in the extraordinary.  The word of the Lord has been and will be fulfilled according to His will.

The Lord is speaking continuously.  His word is what sustains existence, but many are dull of hearing.  The word of the Lord shall be fulfilled, for He who made all things is now and will be forever the One who has all dominion, power, and authority.  He has fulfilled all He spoke of through the prophets of old, and in these last days, He fulfills His will through Christ our Lord and Savior.

My Lord and Savior, help me to be attuned to Your word such that when the Good News comes to me I receive it.  Help me to understand that all other things will pass away, but Your words will endure forever.  You have come bringing blessings to those who will heed Your call and follow You.  Help me to hear, and walk humbly by Your leading.  May the sound of Your greeting reach into my soul.  Amen.

“And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43)

The superior says to the inferior, “You are greater than me.”  A simple twist of propriety where the elder honors the younger.  Is this not the way of the Kingdom of our Lord?  Things are not the same as they are in this world.  We hear a principle of learning to honor.  Give thanks for all of the good gifts which God gives.  He chooses whom He chooses for His own purposes.  Learn to honor others chosen by the Lord.

Lord, in this world of rebellion I am led astray by different principles than what You have declared.  I am constantly going against Your word without realizing it.  Help me to learn to honor where I am able to honor.  Aid me to be thankful for every revelation You give.  Lead me to look for Your hand of action in, through and around me.  As Elizabeth rejoiced as Your bondslave arrived, so also help me to rejoice when one of Your faithful ones comes into my presence.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for showing me the truth that You received those who came to You.  You did not act like the world, asking what position they held, but received them as they were.  Lead me to treat others with respect so that I receive them as they come to me.  This is Your world, not mine.  Help me to live my life in the truth that I am a part of what You have created.  Guide me by grace to be in Your righteousness.  Amen.