Luke 1: 5-18

 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

As we prepare to celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus, the book of Luke and the manner in which Luke recounts this Gospel account has come before me multiple times.

What phrase or word stands out to you in this portion of Scripture? For me, to which I gave a spoiler alert, it is where the angel Gabriel tells Zacharias; “Your petition has been heard.”

This portion of Scripture is rich with faith, miracles, and answered prayers. All of which I have encountered in my life as well.

Zacharias and Elizabeth were old. Elizabeth past the years of bearing a child. Advanced in years says the Bible. Despite what our culture and our medical knowledge says, even back then, Zacharias prayed to have a child. And Gabriel tells Zacharias his petition has been heard. So, not only are they going to have a son, but a son who will help to usher in Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God!

What an answer to prayer! A son, a prophet, the forerunner to Christ! And guess what? Zacharias’s doubt didn’t impact God’s answer! God was still Faithful!

I can’t say that our Father in heaven answers every prayer, which is a good thing. But I do know that though I was not able to produce a child I now have two beautiful daughters!

What in your life have you stopped praying for? What in your life have you doubted, like Zacharias, and haven’t even tried to bring your request before our Father?

These are the days as believers in Jesus, we need to be reading Scripture, studying His Word, meeting together with other believers, and bringing our requests before God. No matter how audacious they may be. Sure, God may not answer. May answer, but not in our timing, or may answer right away, but no matter His response, He loves you so much He sent His Son to earth to live a perfect life, die a perfect death, and rise again so that we may have life and life to the full. Without fear of sin, death, or the grave.

Isaiah 55: 6-7

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.