Daily Power #359

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” (Luke 1:46 ESV)

Someone said something years ago that stuck with me. They explained that Christmas is a magnifier. If things are good in your life, Christmas tends to magnify that goodness. That which is good seems better. A good family seems great. A good party seems fantastic. A good memory becomes an even better one. Christmas magnifies the good.

But unfortunately, it also can magnify what’s difficult. If you are struggling, Christmas season can almost make the struggle seem more intense. Financial stress is tough any time of the year. In December, it can feel unbearable. A challenged relationship with extended family is never fun. It seems to be accentuated during the holidays. If you normally battle with loneliness, Christmastime may be the loneliest time of all.

Rather than just focusing on yourself this Christmas Day, what you got and what you gave, how much you ate, who you saw, how the kids looked, I’d encourage you to focus on Christ. Today we celebrate the greatest gift in history, our Savior’s birth.

As you focus on Jesus, worship God for his goodness, his love, his sacrifice. We are told to magnify him, to glorify him together. What does that mean? Among other things, magnify simply means to make bigger. What if you made God a bigger part of your life? Not just on Christmas Day, but every day. What if you allowed his goodness, his will, his plans to consume your thinking? What if you made his presence the biggest priority in your life?

If you are going to magnify anything this Christmas, magnify the Lord.

Power Lift

I want to focus on you, Lord—not just the presents, parties, and decorations. Today let my soul magnify your presence as I reflect on the miracle of the virgin birth, the gift of your Son, Jesus.