Pondering Them In Her Heart

Luke 2:8-20 “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!’

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

If we try to place ourselves in the shoes of Mary, can you imagine how surreal the past 9 months of her life had been: from a visitation from Gabriel, carrying the Savior of the world in her womb, meeting with her relative Elizabeth and finding her with child in her old age, her brothed Joseph also receiving a dream from Gabriel to take Mary as his wife, traveling to a place far from her home, giving birth outdoors, laying her Son in a manger, and then shepherds from the region leaving their flocks to tell her and everyone what they had just witnessed. I cannot imagine how overwhelming it must have all seemed and Mary treasured all of these experiences and pondered them in her heart.

Learning from the virgin Mary in Luke 2:19, we too ought to treasure and ponder the works of the Lord in our lives. Have you thought about writing down all of the answers to prayers? Or how about notating every thing in life that made you wonder, “was that God?” I have been keeping a private journal of the answer to prayers and the works of the Lord in my own life. Not too long ago I felt the need to revisit this journal and re-read them all and I can tell you that I was filled with thankfulness to the Lord upon reading them. Some of the events I had already forgotten and I was glad to be reminded of them.

Do you keep a journal of the blessings of the Lord? If not, consider starting today so that you can look back over time and give Him praise.

Psalm 105:1-5 “Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered,”