Day 1 of 24 (2021)

Day 1 of 24

Today’s Passage: Luke 1

Today’s focus: vs 13-19

Author: Pastor Billy Wynn

Confidence in God’s Plan

Oftentimes we wonder if God hears our prayers. We can be quick to doubt our prayers because we do not see God answering them. But God is faithful and He has given us His WORD and SPIRIT to guide us into His perfect plan. We are called to be patient, faithful, and obedient even when everything around us does not make sense. We must trust God to move according to His timeline not ours. God sees the big picture and His timing is perfect and just.

In Luke 1:13-19, we see Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth’s, prayers miraculously answered. Zechariah’s initial response was of shock and disbelief. In his heart, Zechariah doubted and questioned Gabriel’s message and God’s timing.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

When we are open to seeking a deeper level of intimacy with God, He can make known to us His sovereignty and His plan through His Word and Spirit. Then we may find ourselves with an abundance of confidence and joy of what our God has done, can do and will do. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s answered prayers were part of God’s divinely orchestrated plan. Their role was to trust God and remain faithful in what He is doing. We too are called to trust God and remain confident, especially when things do not make sense to us. In fact, when we are living out God’s Word, we know that our prayers and answered prayers can be part of God’s plan (I John 5:15). When we remain in God’s Word and trust in Jesus, we have the hope that we will see the fruit of His works when the time comes. The birth of John and Jesus is God’s fulfillment of His promise and love to this world.