Mary’s Three-Part Surrender: Body, Soul, and Spirit
- yolanditacolononli
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
When we read Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement in Luke 1, we see something very significant and beautiful. Her worship wasn’t just a spontaneous song—it was the result of a deliberate surrender in three distinct areas: her body, her soul, and her spirit.
1. A Soul Determined to Exalt the Lord
Mary says:
“My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”— Luke 1:46–47 (NASB)
The soul is made up of our mind, emotions, and will. To exalt the Lord, Mary had to make a choice—she determined in her inner being to magnify Him above every thought, every feeling, and every personal desire.
David understood this too:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.”— Psalm 103:1–2 (NASB)
David speaks to his soul, telling it what to do. Likewise, Mary made a conscious decision:
No matter what my mind thinks, how my emotions feel, or what my will wants—I will exalt the Lord.
2. A Body Yielded to God
Before Mary’s song, there was her “yes.” She asked the angel:
“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”— Luke 1:34 (NASB)
Yet, she didn’t stop there—she surrendered her physical life to God’s plan:
“Behold, the Lord’s bondslave; may it be done to me according to your word.”— Luke 1:38 (NASB)
That was surrender at the most practical level. Her reputation, her comfort, and her future were placed into God’s hands.
Paul gives us the same call:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”— Romans 12:1 (NASB)
True worship is not just with our lips, but with our whole being.
3. A Spirit Positioned in Humility
Mary also positioned her spirit to exalt the Lord. She said:
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.”— Luke 1:48 (NASB)
The word “bondslave” in biblical culture referred to someone whose master set them free, yet they chose to stay out of love and loyalty. They served not from obligation, but from deep relationship.
Mary’s spirit posture said:“I belong to You forever. I am bonded to You. I will serve You because I love You.”
Obedience is good. Love-fueled obedience is better.
Why This Matters for Us
Mary’s example gives us a blueprint for wholehearted surrender:
Soul: Decide to exalt Him above all else.
Body: Yield your actions and physical life to His will.
Spirit: Take the posture of a humble servant bound by love, not obligation.
When these three align, worship flows naturally—not just as a song, but as a life lived before God.
Mary’s surrender also reminds us that intimacy with God can’t be borrowed.
The Oil of Intimacy
In Matthew 25, the wise and foolish virgins illustrate this truth. When the foolish asked for oil, the wise replied:
“No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.”— Matthew 25:9 (NASB)
The oil here speaks of intimacy with God—a history in His presence. It’s not something you can receive secondhand. You must go to the Source yourself.
The anointing can come upon you for ministry, but intimacy is cultivated in the secret place.
As Jesus declared:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”— Luke 4:18–19 (NASB)
The anointing empowers ministry, but the extra oil—like Mary had—is the result of personal devotion and continual communion with God. It is a daily walk with Him.
Questions to ponder:
Which part of Mary’s surrender do you relate to most—body, soul, or spirit?
In what ways can you speak to your soul like David did in Psalm 103?
Are there areas of your life where you’ve yielded your body but not your soul—or vice versa?
What’s one step you can take this week to cultivate your own “oil of intimacy” with God?
Embracing a Deeper Journey … with the Almighty I AM
Yolandita Colón