Do You Hear What I Hear?

 

(Off on a tangent for the season, sorry not sorry.)

Luke 1: 5-22

Tis the season of coincidental and by coincidence Zechariah was chosen by lot from the other priests to burn incense on the alter of Incense, to symbolise the prayers going up to GOD. The people praying outside the temple were mixed with Zechariah’s prayers for his people and himself beside the alter. When Gabriel, GOD’s messenger appears on the scene he tells Zechariah, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. We also read that both Zechariah and Elizabeth we're advanced in years and this particular prayer request for a child was undoubtedly made a while ago. Something thing to encourage you though this example is that we may loose sight of our prayers over the years, but not GOD. Zechariah had asked Gabriel for something that he could be sure of what he was being told was true, it didn’t seem logical after all in prayer?he and Elizabeth were old. It was as if Zechariah had forgotten all about Father Abraham and all the impossible things GOD has done for his people. If it was a sign Zechariah was fishing for, what was poor Gabriel chopped liver? It wasn’t Gabriel’s words that Zechariah was doubting, after all he was just the messenger, he was indirectly doubting GOD’s word through the messenger. Zechariah wasn’t open to GOD’s message, so GOD wasn’t interested in anything Zechariah had to say after that, literally, until after the birth of John.

This is an interesting example of a "Yes" to a prayer request, but the timing and plan is up to GOD. Sometimes when we don't get an answer to our prayers, we can make up all sorts of reasons in our own minds of why the answer was “no”. From the possible reason, we ranked low in GOD's plan, other people had a greater need. We also may think was GOD listening, does he even care? Maybe the reason is because of us, something we did or didn’t do. Look how this couple is described, verse 6 - And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

Have you been discouraged in prayer? Do you go through the motions? Do you feel like no one is listening? In this coming festive season remember like Zechariah, do not be afraid he has heard your prayer, leave it with GOD. A mute Zechariah reminds me  of a song that says - 

You are God in heaven

And here am I on earth

So I'll let my words be few

Jesus, I am so in love with You

In this season of “Do you hear what I hear?” be encouraged, He hears you.