Humility creates space for God to work powerfully in and through our lives. In Luke 1:46–52, Mary’s response to God’s calling shows how choosing worship over worry allows fear to shrink and faith to grow, making room for God’s strength to shine through human weakness.

Highlights


God notices and honors a humble heart.


Mary’s worship shifted her focus from fear to God’s greatness.


Humility helps us trust God with outcomes we can’t control.


Fear keeps us focused on limitations; humility lifts our eyes to God’s power.


God often calls people forward through blessings that feel both exciting and scary.


Choosing worship over worry positions us to receive God’s plans with faith.


God looks for humility when He wants to accomplish great things through someone.

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Full Transcript Below:

God Looks for Humility
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” – Luke 1:46-52, NIV

Mary had just received news that would completely turn her life upside down: an angel announced she would give birth to the Son of God. The news was wonderful, but also terrifying. Mary was a young, unmarried woman in a society where a pregnancy outside of marriage led to shame and even danger. The angel’s message was the best news possible for the world, but for Mary herself, it must have brought up feelings of fear about what her future would be like.

Still, Mary responds with faith, despite her fear. She focuses on God’s greatness and she celebrates that God has blessed her because God has been mindful of her humility. Mary overcomes her very real fears by changing her perspective. She moves her focus off her humble state and onto God, the Mighty One who is greater than her problems, and who can work through her in powerful ways. Mary’s song of praise is about God, rather than herself. She realizes that if God is powerful enough to save the world through the Messiah, he is certainly powerful enough to take care of her reputation and her safety. God sees humble people like Mary and acts through their lives with great power. 

When have you heard some good news from God that’s a blessing, but also scary? Maybe God is calling you to start working toward making a dream a reality, but you’re afraid that you won’t be able to accomplish that goal, so you’re considering letting that dream go to stay in your comfort zone. Or, maybe God is encouraging you to forgive someone and restore a relationship, but you fear getting hurt again, so you’re neglecting God’s guidance because you want to protect yourself. 

Fear can cause you to miss out on making the decisions God wants you to make, because it directs your attention to only your own circumstances and limitations. When fear is in control, you only perceive the threat and miss the miracle. God’s good news is right there, but you can’t fully receive it because you’re so busy listening to worries in your mind. 

In order to fully hear and embrace the good news God sends you, you must make the same choice Mary did: Choose worship over worry. You can do that when you’re humble, because humility helps you see beyond yourself to God, which inspires you with reverence and awe for God. When you can see how big God really is, your fear shrinks, and you can step into the great plans God has for you because you can trust that God will empower you. God looks for humility when he looks for people to serve in great ways. 

Don't let the fear of what might happen in the future stop you from embracing the blessings God wants to send you. Like Mary, be in a humble state that’s ready to serve God. Then look forward to what God will do through your life! 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider why it’s important to be humble for God to work in great ways through your life, reflect on these questions: 
What “good news” has God given you recently that’s both exciting and scary for you? 
What worries you about moving forward with how God is leading you, and what specific truth about God’s character (like his power or his love) can you remind yourself of to move past your fear? 
Like Mary, how can you focus on God’s unlimited strength rather than on your own limitations? 
In what areas of your life do you struggle to be humble, and how can you choose humility more so you can better hear and obey God’s messages? 
How does Mary’s celebration of God’s strength inspire you to choose worship over worry? 

Further Reading:
Isaiah 41:10
2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:18
Psalm 56:3
Philippians 4:6-7

 

Humility creates space for God to work powerfully in and through our lives. In Luke 1:46&ndash;52, Mary&rsquo;s response to God&rsquo;s calling shows how choosing worship over worry allows fear to shrink and faith to grow, making room for God&rsquo;s strength to shine through human weakness.
Highlights
<ul data-start="302" data-end="810">
<li data-start="302" data-end="344">
God notices and honors a humble heart.
</li>
<li data-start="345" data-end="411">
Mary&rsquo;s worship shifted her focus from fear to God&rsquo;s greatness.
</li>
<li data-start="412" data-end="475">
Humility helps us trust God with outcomes we can&rsquo;t control.
</li>
<li data-start="476" data-end="557">
Fear keeps us focused on limitations; humility lifts our eyes to God&rsquo;s power.
</li>
<li data-start="558" data-end="645">
God often calls people forward through blessings that feel both exciting and scary.
</li>
<li data-start="646" data-end="725">
Choosing worship over worry positions us to receive God&rsquo;s plans with faith.
</li>
<li data-start="726" data-end="810">
God looks for humility when He wants to accomplish great things through someone.
</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
God Looks for Humility By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;And Mary said: &lsquo;My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me &ndash; holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.&rdquo; &ndash; Luke 1:46-52, NIV
Mary had just received news that would completely turn her life upside down: an angel announced she would give birth to the Son of God. The news was wonderful, but also terrifying.<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/how-old-was-mary-when-she-had-jesus.html"> Mary was a young, unmarried woman</a> in a society where a pregnancy outside of marriage led to shame and even danger. The angel&rsquo;s message was the best news possible for the world, but for Mary herself, it must have brought up feelings of fear about what her future would be like.
Still, Mary responds with faith, despite her fear. She focuses on God&rsquo;s greatness and she celebrates that God has blessed her because God has been mindful of her humility. Mary overcomes her very real fears by changing her perspective. She moves her focus off her humble state and onto God, the Mighty One who is greater than her problems, and who can work through her in powerful ways. Mary&rsquo;s song of praise is about God, rather than herself. She realizes that if God is powerful enough to save the world through the Messiah, he is certainly powerful enough to take care of her reputation and her safety. God sees humble people like Mary and acts through their lives with great power.&nbsp;
When have you heard some good news from God that&rsquo;s a blessing, but also scary? Maybe God is calling you to start working toward making a dream a reality, but you&rsquo;re afraid that you won&rsquo;t be able to accomplish that goal, so you&rsquo;re considering letting that dream go to stay in your comfort zone. Or, maybe God is encouraging you to forgive someone and restore a relationship, but you fear getting hurt again, so you&rsquo;re neglecting God&rsquo;s guidance because you want to protect yourself.&nbsp;
Fear can cause you to miss out on<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/biblical-truths-to-guide-your-decision-making.html"> making the decisions God wants you to make</a>, because it directs your attention to only your own circumstances and limitations. When fear is in control, you only perceive the threat and miss the miracle. God&rsquo;s good news is right there, but you can&rsquo;t fully receive it because you&rsquo;re so busy listening to worries in your mind.&nbsp;
In order to fully hear and embrace the good news God sends you, you must make the same choice Mary did: Choose worship over worry. You can do that when you&rsquo;re humble, because humility helps you see beyond yourself to God, which<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/wisdom-begins-with-awe-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> inspires you with reverence and awe for God</a>. When you can see how big God really is, your fear shrinks, and you can step into the great plans God has for you because you can trust that God will empower you. God looks for humility when he looks for people to serve in great ways.&nbsp;
Don't let the fear of what might happen in the future stop you from embracing the blessings God wants to send you. Like Mary, be in a humble state that&rsquo;s ready to serve God. Then look forward to what God will do through your life!&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider why it&rsquo;s important to be humble for God to work in great ways through your life, reflect on these questions:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">What &ldquo;good news&rdquo; has God given you recently that&rsquo;s both exciting and scary for you?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What worries you about moving forward with how God is leading you, and what specific truth about God&rsquo;s character (like his power or his love) can you remind yourself of to move past your fear?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Like Mary, how can you focus on God&rsquo;s unlimited strength rather than on your own limitations?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">In what areas of your life do you struggle to be humble, and how can you<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/ibelieve-truth-a-devotional-for-women/humble-yourself-under-gods-mighty-hand.html"> choose humility more</a> so you can better hear and obey God&rsquo;s messages?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How does Mary&rsquo;s celebration of God&rsquo;s strength inspire you to choose worship over worry?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Isaiah 41:10 2 Timothy 1:7 1 John 4:18 Psalm 56:3 Philippians 4:6-7
&nbsp;

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

God Looks for Humility

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/1afd9866-ed96-4c93-bc59-b3ca01411d65/transcript