"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Luke 1:46-47
I have focused on One Word yearly for the last decade instead of making New Year's resolutions. I started this discipline shortly after my Daddy passed away in 2014 with the hope that I would focus on one Word and have more success than the resolutions that seemed unlikely to be achieved. Each year, I would consider what I needed and be open to hearing what my Word would be.
My goal is to focus for the entire year on that Word and then have that Word as a part of the lens through which I view the world. In December each year, I reflect on my words from years of this practice and look for what I will embrace for the New Year.
For Advent, I read Luke 1 and 2 daily to better understand Mary and her incredible faith. Sunday morning, during worship, we sang two songs that had the "magnify" in the lyrics. I realized then that would be my Word for 2024. While searching for my Word for 2024, I read it daily in Luke 1:46. Isn't that how it goes? God gives us the answer, but we cannot always see it immediately.
Magnify: to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect.
So, for me, I want to magnify our God like Mary did and look to others to show respect and greater esteem.
In our world, many people are not given respect or good esteem. I desire to be a source of respect and greater esteem for those I encounter. I will continue to look for beauty as my lens from 2023, and in 2024, I will look for ways to magnify those around me.
