“Do not be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard.”

A thought by Various Authors (2010-02-23) from the Holy Bible (NIrV) for Adults (Kindle Locations 66388-66389). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I am reading through the accounts in the New Testament of the Bible of the birth of Jesus and I came across this line in the first chapter of Luke. And I found this line a little interesting. Now I do know the story but I still find this fact interesting.

Now Zechariah is an older priest and an angel comes to him and said this statement. Of course I probably would be afraid if I saw an angel but excited that God had heard my prayer and was going to answer it. It seems that Zechariah had been praying since he was young for a child and now the angel says it is going to happen and he is afraid.

I know it was something he really wanted but with it not happening and he and his wife getting older he may have been praying just because he had always done it. He had gotten to the place that he was sure that it wasn’t going to happen but here it is and the fact that there was going to be a baby around made him stop and think, maybe this isn’t a good thing. It was a very good thing but it caught him off guard.

Of course Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus had a lot to be afraid of being the earthly father of the Son of God. But Zechariah was getting what he had prayed for and he was afraid.

I’m sure every parent had a feeling of excitement but also some fear when they found out that they were going to be a parent. It is such a major responsibility but also a tremendous priviledge. I remember the night our son Brett, our first child was born and the drive I had from the hospital to our home and the time of earnest prayer I had. It was an emotional time that drive but it was also the beginning of one of the most fulfilling tasks that I have had, the task to be a parent and now a grandparent. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything but it also had some anxiety attached to it.

I am so glad that I had a relationship with God to help me to guide me to nurture me to encourage me. I would never want that responsibility without Him. He has made all the difference.

So what prayer are your praying today?

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