DO YOU PRAY BELIEVING

Throughout scripture, God guides His children to pray.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3 KJV)

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22 KJV)  

The blog post from yesterday, ME and My Big Mouth, discussed Zacharias’ reaction to Gabriel’s words, “thy prayer is heard.” He and his wife, Elisabeth, had been praying for a child, “because Elisabeth was barren.” (Luke 1:7 KJV). Even though Gabriel was an angel sent from God (that fact alone should have been a solid reason to believe him), Zacharias replied, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years?” (Luke 1:18 KJV)

Luke tells us, Zacharias and Elisabeth “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). Desiring a child, Zacharias and his wife made their request known, God answered, yet Zacharias wasn’t able to RECEIVE what he had asked.

What hindered Zacharias' ability to RECEIVE an answer to his prayer? Gabriel's response to Zacharias' question explains, “thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words” (Luke 1:20 KJV). Zacharias couldn’t RECEIVE God’s reply to his prayer because of UNBELIEF!  

Have you speculated on why Luke included these details before Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary?

The Christmas Story is applicable in many ways. Prayer is one of the key points that I took away. In James, we read, “You have not because you ask not.”

And we know it’s important to wait on God’s perfect timing. How long had Zacharias and Elisabeth prayed for a child? Did their age cause them to give up?

Recording the forerunner of Jesus is vital to His story … but an inspiring takeaway would be to remember – God prompts our prayers not only because we have a need or a desire, but because He has a plan. How often do our prayers “put into motion” God’s plans?

When projecting for the upcoming year (which, to me, signifies a fresh start), I make a list. This year, I considered one of my goals to be “pray more.” As I contemplated Zacharias’s response to God’s answer to his prayer, I'm thinking my list should read, “pray believing.”

How often do we utter a prayer to ease our conscience that “we prayed about it?” Or “talk to God about something, and as soon as the words leave our mouths, our request is forgotten?”

Perhaps one item we could put on our Christmas list is a prayer journal. As we’re considering what to give Jesus for Christmas, possibly we could gift Him a renewed commitment to “pray always.”

IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

As you’re busy preparing for Christmas, should you add “prayer” to your long to-do list? I know I find it challenging to “carve” out adequate prayer time amid all the hustle and bustle. While wrapping gifts, pray for the recipients. Or when addressing the Christmas card, offer a specific request for each person.

In what ways do you pray while preparing for the holidays? We'd love to hear from you!