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Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Defining and Refining

mag-ni-fy - verb -
1. to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
2. to increase in significance: intensify: exaggerate
3. to enlarge in fact or in appearance: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are.

I am a relatively 'young' Christian, having come to Christ 13 years ago. There are terms in the Christian verbiage that I use occasionally but have only a loose understanding of what I am saying. The word magnify is certainly one of those.

I mean, I know what it means. I was among those kids on the playground who used a magnifying glass to catch things on fire. I even understood that magnifying glasses had other purposes, but I had decently good eye-sight, so mainly it was a tool for catching things on fire.

When I started attending church regularly, I heard that phrase 'magnify yourself in us' and just flowed with it, not really giving a second thought as to what that really meant. I am not the insatiably curious type, to say the least. I often forget to ask the most basic of questions. Anyway, while 'magnify' never really became a term in my Christian vocabulary, I heard it. And frequently.

However, I had one of those 'ah-ha' moments this past weekend while I was at Blissdom. I attended the prayer and praise time that Robin so graciously put together for us one morning, and there, in the middle of thirty or so women, who were essentially strangers, God started revealing things to me.

That's how it is for me. Little things that add up to big things one day. Eventually. Right now, it is dwelling on a word. Magnify. It's specific meaning with the God connotation. To ask Him to magnify Himself in my life is just like asking Him to make me smaller, make Him bigger. To beg that people will see Him through the actions I carry out, the conversations I have, the way I treat my children and my husband.

There is so much more that went on in my head this weekend. Things that I really think God is preparing me for. And He needed me to really get that one little word. To remind me that it is all about Him, for His glory. Not about me and what I can do.

So, yeah, it seems little, but it's not. There are places yet to go, things yet to be uncovered, but I have to know the lingo and really understand the ramifications of what it means in order to make the most of the things God lays in front of me.

...My soul doth magnify the Lord
Luke 1:46


4 comments:

Smockity Frocks said...

That morning was my very favorite part of Blissdom! It really struck a chord with me that I can show the magnificence of God to people through my blog!

I was so pleased to meet you and spend time chatting!

Rebecca said...

I'm coming over from Cecily's blog because I thought your comment to her was so kind.

Love this post about Magnifying; praying that whatever He is preparing you for is beautiful.

Monica said...

I love your explanation of the word magnify. I guess I've never really thought about it in detail. But I really like that He wants us to become smaller so that He can become bigger and work through us.

Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

I wish I had not slept through that breakfast...it sounds awesome. Glad to have met you at the #b90days coffee though =)