Following Jesus Through the First Christmas: 25 Days of Advent TruthsНамуна

When Mary learned she would carry the Son of God, her world was turned upside down. She was young, unmarried, and facing an uncertain future. There must have been questions, fears, and moments of confusion about what was ahead.

Yet instead of letting fear take over, Mary chose worship.

Her song in Luke 1 isn’t just a melody of praise—it’s a declaration of trust. She remembered God’s faithfulness to His people and believed that the same God who had been faithful before would be faithful again.

Mary wasn't the first to worship through remembrance. Throughout Scripture, God’s people built altars of remembrance—places that marked His faithfulness and power.

Abraham built them, Jacob built them, and generations after continued the practice. These altars were tangible reminders of divine encounters and answered prayers.

Worship doesn’t always sound like singing; sometimes, it looks like remembering.

Take time today to build your own “altar of remembrance.” Write down the ways you’ve seen God’s hand in your life—a new opportunity, a door that closed for your good, a prayer He answered, an unexpected provision. And when your world feels upside down, return to that list and let gratitude turn your heart toward worship.

Worship lifts our eyes.

It reminds us that even when we don’t understand what God is doing, we can still trust who He is. We worship not only because Jesus came, but because His coming proves that God always keeps His promises.

So pause and worship—right where you are.

Maybe things haven't gone the way you expected.

Maybe you’re waiting or wondering what God is doing.

But like Mary, you can still sing. Because the same God who was faithful then is faithful now.

Pray:

God, open my heart to see You in both the quiet and the chaos. Let my worship come not just from what I feel, but from who You are. Give me a spirit that delights in Your presence and a song that keeps pointing back to You. Amen.

Talk about it:

When is it hardest for you to worship—when life feels uncertain, disappointing, or heavy? What’s one practical way you could turn your focus toward worship in those moments, even if nothing in your circumstance changes?

Worship:

Take a few minutes today to sit with this truth in song. Listen to Gratitude by Brandon Lake. Search for Following Jesus Through the First Christmas on Spotify by Biltmore Church for the full playlist.