Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Has your prayer been answered by God? Have you stopped praying for what you once prayed every day for? Zacharias and Elizabeth prayed for a son, but it was as if that prayer went up to God, but then placed a holding pattern around the throne of God. Many prayers completely disappear because they don’t have the power and faith behind them to break through the barriers of heaven. Many prayers break through, but never get into the holding pattern of God’s timing because they don’t reflect God’s plan. Think about it, there very well may be prayers you faithfully prayed years ago that are still in the holding pattern of God’s will and timing. We can only wonder how many years it had been since this righteous couple pleaded with God for a son, 10, 20, 30 years. Perhaps they had given up asking God for this one thing for a while, but God had not given up, nor let their prayer disappear. And even though to them it appeared God would not grant their petition, they kept serving God and living for God. In fact, the angel appeared to Zacharias while he was serving at the temple at the altar of incense. This couple was faithful to God even though they had accepted that God would not grant their greatest desire. I believe that’s the encouragement here—be faithful no matter what and keep serving God. The greatest desire of Zacharias and Elizabeth was a son. What is yours?
“LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:1-2