Ponder in LowlinessSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: Ask yourselves whether there is kindness in your tongue and whether divine wisdom is seen in your life, or whether you are spending your time in idle gossip. In the life of Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, God was with her and exalted her. We see how she humbles herself when she says, "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:48).
Are you deficient in your studies, in your status or beauty. Does the world say, "You are fit for nothing"? Does the world avoid and neglect you? Do not worry because the Almighty God does not look at you as the world does.
"But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God." (Psalm 40:17)
My dear friend, God is ever mindful to pour His blessings upon you. What a great privilege is this! Mary was a lowly woman. She loved God because He was mindful of her even in her lowliness and blessed her abundantly. He granted her grace to bear the hallowed Son of the God of gods in her womb for ten months. The angel says that there were two reasons for that. One was the grace that Mary received from God. The other was God's presence that was with her, even when she was in her lowly state. God's grace is very essential in the life of everyone of us.
"The Lord's mercies are new every morning." (Lamentations3:22, 23)
To receive God's grace, I would get up early in the morning and submit myself entirely to Him. I would pray, "Lord, the responsibility for this day is Yours. Fill me with Your new mercies." I would tell Him all my burdens and problems. He would lead me miraculously all through the day with perfect peace and joy, which the world cannot give, because He is the God of peace. How can we say that we have no peace, having the Lord in our hearts? Our Lord had promised, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). When Mary asked the angel, "Then Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I do not know a man?' The angel said, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God' At once, Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:34-38)
Is your heart pure and holy at the sight of God? When we do as He says, we will surely receive God's blessings. Mary did just one thing;She kept herself pure and holy and pondered the words of the angel in her heart. She only went to her kinswoman Elizabeth and shared with her what happened. But what do we do? When four of us come together we gossip and revel in all idle stories. But these two women - Mary and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke only of matters realting to God.
My dear friend, what a great joy it is for children of God to meet with one mind?
"Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name." (Malachi 3:16)
Friend, it is such talk that the Lord delights to hear. If there are drawbacks in your life, correct them today itself. If idle words come out of your mouth, pray to God that you should stop such words proceeding out of your mouths. In the book of Proverbs we read of how a wise woman should be "She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness"(Proverb 31:26).
Today, ask yourself whether there is the law of kindness in your tongue and whether divine wisdom is seen in your life, or whether you are spending your time in idle gossip? God uses us only after watching how we spend our time, how we wait at His feet and read the Bible. To keep saying that we want the Gifts and the anointing of the Holy Spirit and at the same time, spend our time in useless gossip is not pleasing to God.
The other reason why Mary's life was blessed was God's presence with her. The Lord says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). Have you opened your heart and invited the Lord to come in? What a great joy you will have when Jesus comes into your heart to resides in it! Even as He exalted Mary, He will exalt you.
Prayer:
My Father and my God,
I thank You for reminding me that my relationship with You must not be taken for granted, but constantly maintained. And if repentance is what is needed, help me to take that step and without delay. Father let my words and the thoughts of my mind be ever pleasing and favorable at your sight. Let me also feel Your presence all the time. Please remember me also in my lowly state as You did in the life of Mary. In Jesus's name, I pray.
Amen. |