Every day, whether we realize it or not, we magnify something. We magnify our accomplishments, worries, disappointments, dreams. We might magnify our schedules, our opinions, or the judgments of others, or maybe even our fears..
The question isn’t whether we’ll magnify something. The question is what—or more importantly, Who—will become greatest in our eyes.
That was the heart of our recent conversation with author and speaker Morgan Krueger as we discussed her new book, Made to Magnify.
We Were Created for More Than Self
Our culture constantly tells us to build our own platform, chase our dreams, protect our happiness, and create our personal brand.
At first glance, those messages seem harmless.
But over time, they quietly shift our focus from God’s glory to our own.
Morgan shared how she discovered this in her own life. Even while enjoying many wonderful blessings from God, she slowly began placing her identity in those gifts rather than in the Giver. She placed a lot of value on her career, her relationships, and on new opportunities.
None of those things were wrong. They simply became too important. When circumstances changed, God lovingly revealed where her identity had been resting all along. Many of us have experienced the same thing.
Sometimes God allows our foundations to shake—not to punish us—but to remind us that only He is unshakable.
Mary’s Beautiful Response
Morgan pointed us to one of Scripture’s most familiar passages with fresh eyes. When a young virgin named Mary learned she would carry the Savior of the world, she certainly had questions. She had every reason to focus on fear and the uncertainty of her future. Instead, she looked upward and declared:
“My soul magnifies the Lord.”
Mary chose to make God’s greatness bigger than her circumstances. What if we did the same?
The Cycle of Self
One of the most practical parts of our conversation with Morgan centered around what she calls the “cycle of self.” She identified three common traps:
- Pride
- Fear
- Doubt
Each one pulls our attention inward. Pride convinces us we know better than God. Fear tempts us to control what belongs in His hands. Doubt whispers that perhaps God isn’t as good as He says He is.
These struggles are not new. They appeared in the Garden of Eden, and they still appear in our own hearts today. Yet none of them have the final word.
Jesus continually invites us to bring our fears, doubts, and failures to Him—not to hide them from Him.
Magnifying Jesus in Ordinary Moments
Sometimes we think glorifying God requires extraordinary acts of faith; but, more often, it happens in ordinary moments. We can magnify God by:
- Apologizing to a child.
- Serving a spouse.
- Choosing humility over being right.
- Responding with patience instead of irritation.
- Trusting God instead of trying to control every outcome.
These seemingly small decisions become powerful acts of worship. They make Jesus visible to a watching world.
Living Like Jesus
Morgan highlighted three characteristics that shaped Jesus’ earthly life:
- Humility
- Sacrificial love
- Dependence on the Father
Imagine how different our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities would look if those became our daily priorities. Not that we are seeking perfection, but that we simply live each moment in faithful dependence.
The Invitation
At the end of the day, every one of us faces the same decision: will today be about building my kingdom, or will it be about making much of Jesus?
The beautiful news of the Gospel is that we don’t have to manufacture this life on our own. Jesus doesn’t simply command us to magnify Him, He empowers us through His Spirit to do exactly that. As we keep our eyes fixed on Him, our lives naturally begin reflecting His glory. Perhaps that’s the greatest freedom of all.
The truth is that when Jesus becomes greater our fears become smaller, our striving becomes quieter, and our purpose becomes clearer. As Morgan points out, we were never made to magnify ourselves, we were made to magnify Him. And as we do, our joy is made complete.
Reflection Question: What are you magnifying most in this season of your life—and what would change if you intentionally made Jesus greater today? Want to learn more? Watch our full interview with Morgan here.
