Holy is his name.
50 He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God.
51 He has shown strength with his arm.
He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy,
55 just as he promised to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

Observation:
This is one of four hymns preserved in Luke 1-2. This hymn of praise is known as the Magnificat because in the Latin Vulgate translation the opening word is Magnificat, which means “glorifies.” I have highlighted verse 53 which refers to “the hungry.” I would assume this might refer to both the physically and spiritually hungry, but for my purposes I want to focus on the importance of being spiritually hungry.
From the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
And from John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never go thirsty.”

Application:
For several years, I have been intentional about asking God to make me hungry: hungry for relationship with God, hungry for knowing the very heart of God, hungry for knowing God’s will and purpose for my life, hungry for seeing God’s hand in the living of my life each day.
If we are to remain open, aware and available to the purposes to which God has called us, I am convinced our constant prayer must be for God to make us hungry.

Prayer:
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer. Give me an unquenchable hunger to know you. Keep me hungry to know all those things that break your heart, especially those things I may do or fail to do that break your heart. Keep me hungry for relationship with you, so that I may know your will and call for my life. Keep me hungry to stay close to you, so that I may feel your love even as I may feel the very beat of your heart. Keep me hungry to see you in my life and in the lives of others each day. Most of all, keep me hungry to share my first-hand witness of your love with the least, the last and the lost.
In Christ name I pray. Amen

Vida, I share your concerns, and praise you for your loving heart. I’m no expert, either, but sometimes find comfort in remembering that God’s ways are ultimately unknowable, and we have to “trust and obey”.
God help me/us… Amen!