Leading The Way - Devotional for April 19
April 19, 2026
The Prayer of Praise
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
Read Luke 1:46-55.
I wish I could step into a time machine and journey back to that day when young Mary, a girl probably no older than fourteen years old, walked the dusty road into the hills of Judea to the home of her cousin Elizabeth. I wish I could be there to see Elizabeth and Mary embrace and to hear the words of the Magnificat from Mary’s own lips, to see the joy of the Magnificat shining in her eyes. What a privilege for Elizabeth to hear this prayer, which would be recited millions of times down through the ages.
Mary faced a crisis that you and I can’t fully understand. But because of her belief in the Word of God, because of her trust in the promises of God, because of her deep and abiding relationship with God, she faced this crisis with confidence and faith.
Mary composed these words out of a heart full of gratitude. God had chosen to bless her among all women by placing in her womb the baby who would become the Savior of the world. The long-promised Messiah would soon be born—and she would be His mother! How could she not praise God for the honor He had given her?
Mary’s prayer exemplifies the lasting power of authentic, Biblical self-esteem and the perfect balance of confidence and humility. The personality of this young teenager was not warped by materialism, corrupted by possessions, or distorted by peer pressure. Her spirit was formed and shaped by a lifetime of immersion in the Word of God. She was committed to trusting in the promises of God and to allowing God to use her life for His glory as He would sovereignly see fit. Her faith is an example to us all.
Mary, who embodied and personified God’s fulfilled promise to the human race, was saying through the Magnificat, “God always keeps His promises.”
Are you willing to trust God to keep His promises to you? Are you willing to magnify and glorify His name above all else? Glorify God in all circumstances. Magnify His name at all times. That is the essence of the prayer of Mary and the key to power in prayer.
Prayer: Lord, You are the matchless, sovereign God. You alone are worthy of my praise. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name” (Luke 1:48-49).
*This devotional adapted from Life-Changing Prayers by Michael Youssef © 2018. Published by Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission.
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Life-Changing Prayers, Part 7: LISTEN NOW
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