More Facts To Ponder

We pick up the drama with Zechariah the priest.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Luke 1:  8 - 9

We are observing him as he is prayerfully about to burn the incense. It is at this moment, or in this moment of praying on behalf of the people that, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. Luke 2: 11.

Remember, Zechariah is an old, fatherless man, and his wife Elizabeth, has passed childbearing age. Remember too, he has been praying to God all his married life, not just for the people of Israel, but he carried a deeply intimate, tender and personal heart-prayer. He was praying for a child, but God gave him no child. Indeed, he will no longer be praying for a child, as the time has passed. However, does not the cloud of such longing, the cloud of sadness and pain, remain? Let’s be honest here.

We all have had, or still have, some deep, personal secret desire even, for which we have prayed. We have been steadfast and faithful in praying, even going on prayer retreats, disciplined prayer-fasts and other actions. Alas! Nothing has helped and we have left off praying for our deep desires, as it is now too late. Time has not waited, and our hopes are now dead. Zechariah, like his dear, faithful and loving wife, knows that he is a childless man, with his wife Elizabeth. It is to such a heart, such a mind that God’s messenger speaks, bringing good news in these, Advent Words. But the angel said to him: 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. Luke 1: 13. 

Courage! O may this unmistakable courage of Zechariah, be ours also as we too find comfort in our Lord’s Advent Words which are a Circle of Warmth around us and within us.  

Spirit of the Living God, descend to us we pray that we may know and receive Your comfort and courage at this Advent time, with Your Advent Words to us. Amen!

There is Comfort and Courage - freedom from fear- It is not unusual for the mind to become afraid, startled with fear, thinking all kinds of thoughts which are quick to speak of harm and not help. It takes courage to put away one’s fear, in order to believe these Advent Words of God’s heavenly angel. Your prayer has been heard.

There is Comfort and Courage - freedom from doubt - Such fear never comes without its travelling companion called doubt. Believe it or not, fear brings doubt and so we can believe that the initial response of Zechariah was to doubt that what he was experiencing was to his good. It takes courage to put aside one’s doubts, in order to accept these Advent Words of God’s heavenly angel. Your prayer has been heard.

There is Comfort and Courage - freedom from dejection and skepticism – Fear and doubt never travel alone. They make a threesome, as skepticism is a part of this harmful force. Skepticism drives the mind in all kinds of unwanted, different directions, and it is not at all easy to convince such minds of the reality of truth. It takes courage to turn a deaf ear to dejection and skepticism, in order to activate these Advent Words of God’s heavenly angel. Your prayer has been heard.

God is still your, Circle of Warmth, who swaddles you with Advent Words of undeniable comfort and unconquerable courage, which drive away all fears, doubts, unbelief, disappointments, skepticism and more, so that you can boldly believe and respond to Him, with new heart and mind. Your prayer has been heard.

Tomorrow, we will be led in a study of the Correction and Consolation in our Lord’s Circle of Warmth.