Luke 1:19
“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you
and to tell you this good news.”

Do you realize the Christmas account actually started with Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents?

Zechariah was a priest whose division was on duty to serve in the Temple.  Zechariah was chosen by lot to go into the Most Holy Place to burn incense. It was considered a great honor to go into the Most Holy Place.

While there, Zechariah must have prayed a personal prayer as well.  The Bible tells us while Zechariah was still praying, an angel appeared.  It nearly scared him to death!

But Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.”  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.” 

Gabriel went on to describe John.  He would not be just any child.  He would be great in the eyes of the Lord.

• He’d be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.
• He’d persuade the people to turn to the Lord.
• He’d be full of power and would prepare the people for the Messiah’s arrival!

Now that’s a lot to take in for anybody.  Especially a priest that’s in his senior years of life.

But this was an answer to years and years of prayer!  The answer to this prayer (in my eyes) fall into the “immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine” category.

To have a child was the desire of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s hearts. Surely, they had given up on this dream ever coming to fruition.  Zechariah had surely watched Elizabeth weep over her barrenness.  He’d seen her deal with hot flashes.  Her becoming pregnant must have seemed impossible. 

Which makes me think of the things in my life that seem impossible.  The things I’ve been praying for with little evidence God has heard.  (And there are many.)  The prayers I’ve quit praying because the circumstance seems bigger God.

Zechariah and Elizabeth’s account encourages us to not give up asking for the impossible.  We serve a God Who is limitless.   Physical circumstantial limitations do not limit God.   He asks us to believe without seeing.   He asks us to walk by faith, not by sight.  Because He is limitless, His resources never run dry.  Our God can do the impossible!

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine.”

You can read the whole account here: Luke 1:8-20

Portions of this blog were taken from: