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Intention

To magnify Jesus’ light and life to those around us as we say “yes” to God’s will for our lives.

Scripture

“My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.”

– Luke 1:46–47

Reflection

Mary’s beautiful words, “My soul magnifies the Lord”, glow brightly with the unquenchable flame of love. To magnify is to make bigger, to enlarge — to say “yes” to the will of God and to radiate Jesus to the fullest, no matter the circumstances surrounding us.

Truly, Mary shows us that a heart full of love for the Lord is radically available and obedient to God’s redemptive plan — generously and joyfully saying “yes” to God’s hard and holy invitations.

Even though Mary was facing a difficult, unexpected journey, she didn’t focus on herself and her own worries and fears. Instead, she entrusted herself completely to God and became other-focused, turning her thoughts to Elizabeth. Young Mary didn’t become paralysed by fear or uncertainty, for within her was Jesus — the power of resurrection and new life.

And so, Mary hurried. She “arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39) to visit Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting — which, according to Jewish custom, would likely have been Shalom — “Peace be with you” — a circle of increasing joy unfolded between the two, a back-and-forth response to the presence of Jesus. The Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth, her child leapt in her womb for joy, and she recognised Mary as the “Mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43). In response, Mary’s joy deepened and she burst forth into poetic praise, expressing the depth of her gratitude and love for God her saviour through spontaneous song (Luke 1:46–55).

And what about us? Having experienced and encountered the presence of the risen Lord in our own lives, what are our generous responses?

Just as parents love to see their children respond to their loving gifts, our Abba Father loves to see us respond to his.

What is your response? What actions in your life are your love songs to God?

When I ponder the work of pregnancy centres — standing in the gap, reaching pregnant women on the edge and placing them in safety — my heart swells with joy as I see a great magnification of the watchful tender loving care of Jesus: El Roi — “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). Sometimes it brings me to tears when I think of the beauty of this ministry and all the generous workers who have said “yes” to the call and birthed a service of life, bringing the love of Christ to those in greatest need.

In the selfless generosity of pregnancy support workers, I see an echo of Mary’s beautiful feet that “arose and went with haste” (Luke 1:39). As Mary hurried across the hill country carrying the Lord hidden in her womb, her presence brought good news and proclaimed peace with her every step and greeting.

Now, more than ever, we, the Church, are called to make our feet beautiful as these “messengers who run to bring good news and proclaim peace” (Isaiah 52:7). We are called to rise each morning, go boldly to the throne of grace, and receive fresh mercies — fresh oil — so we can be pure vessels in which the Spirit of the Lord dwells, ready to birth hope, peace, joy, and love through our actions. Every step, heartbeat, smile, greeting, word, breath, gaze, and act of hospitality holds the power to bring good news — to publish peace — in the hearts of all those we encounter, especially those in pain and difficulty.

There are always moments of tiredness as we stretch to magnify the Lord in our availability for outreach. But take courage: the Lord is always ready to work great marvels through our littlest offering of self — even more so when we feel at our weakest or smallest. He only needs our little “yes,” and delighting in it, he adds a beautiful harmony, transforming it into a grand love song capable of producing miraculous change, warming and thawing even the most frozen hearts. When we give Jesus permission to operate in our body, he generates the light of life through our humanity. Let him keep surprising you with his excesses of love.

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Prayer

Abba Father,

Thank you for your faithful love that never fails and for the gift of Jesus, our light, and our life.

Teach our hearts, like Mary’s, to magnify your love — to say “yes” with trust, abandoning ourselves to your plan even when the path ahead is unknown.

Fill our hearts afresh with the Holy Spirit, and kindle in us the fire of your love, so that we may carry your presence into every conversation, every step, and every act of service.

Give us hearts that move “with haste” toward those in need, bringing comfort, peace, and hope to each person you place in our path.

Strengthen all who serve in pregnancy help work. When they feel weary, renew their courage. When they feel small, let them know you delight in their “yes”, and remind them that although the bee is small, it produces the sweetest things of all.

Through our ordinary lives, do extraordinary things for your glory. May our words and actions be a love song to you, and may your grace overflow through us to place every vulnerable mother, father, and child in safety. May we truly be your dwelling places, your living tabernacles, your pilgrim Church, going forth in service to bring the good news to all, so that your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.

Author Bio

Lara has been supporting women and families through unexpected pregnancy journeys since 2012. She also loves encouraging and empowering Christian women to launch pregnancy help services, little Hubs of Love, in their postcode. Lara lives by the coast in Perth and loves to sing, cook and make a garden grow… with silver bells and cockle shells and marigolds all in a row.

Prayer Points for 21 Days for Life 2026

1. The Holy Spirit to transform our culture so that the shedding of this innocent blood becomes unthinkable in Australia. (Micah 6:7–8)
2. The Church be one, praying and advocating for the unborn. (John 17:21)
3. Each church across Australia to become a trusted place of mercy and redemption, so that anyone experiencing an unexpected pregnancy or who has been wounded by abortion will find help, hope and healing. For every church to be an effective House of Refuge for the unborn and their families, and Hubs of Love to be established in every city and town in the nation. (Hebrews 4:16)
4. Those considering or wounded by abortion to receive compassionate and confidential care by contacting Pregnancy Help Australia or visiting a life-affirming pregnancy centre. (Exodus 15:26)
5. Walks for life to flourish in every state and territory as a public witness. (Matthew 5:14–16)
6. Australians to vote for and elect bold MPs who’ll stand for and champion the sanctity of life. (Psalm 139:13–16)

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