Prayer is communicating with God and is one of the greatest gifts the Lord has given to His children. When we pray, we can speak to the God of the universe, and He is always there to listen as if we are the only person on earth. Like a loving parent, I believe God loves hearing from His children.
Also, when your child speaks to you on the phone, you soon recognize by the tone of their voice what is going on. Sometimes we think God does not have emotions, but that is not true. Just as a parent can sense heartbreak in your voice, our all-knowing Lord is moved by prayers that convey our circumstances.
Zechariah and Elizabeth longed for a child. The text doesn’t specify, but I imagine that this couple offered some tearful prayers as they sought the Lord. We gain a deeper understanding of this couple from Scripture. Luke 1:6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. [1]
Praying to God is an Act of Humility
Praying to God is an act of humility because we recognize that we cannot change the situation. It is when I reach the end of myself that I realize my most significant need is for God. In our story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, it became apparent over time that they needed God’s intervention to have a child. To his surprise, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah while he was ministering in the Temple.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.[2] How many people are praying all over the world to have a child? Fortunately, God remains the God who performs miracles and answers prayers. You may not be praying for a child, but perhaps you are praying to know God better, to have a deeper thirst for His word, to grow in compassion for others, to be a better spouse, or to address many other needs.
Often, I am surprised when God answers prayers, but I shouldn’t be. James 5:16The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [3] Our prayers are powerful, not because of us, but because Jesus has called us to faith and given His life as a sacrifice for our sins.
God Intercedes in Our Weakness
There are times when our circumstances may be so overwhelming that we may not know what to pray or how. In God’s mercy, the Apostle Paul tells us that God intervenes. Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.[4]
Doesn’t this sound like a loving parent? That is who God is. He instinctively understands our needs and acts in a way only He can. 1 John 3:1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are![5] To learn more about how prayer is communicating with God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-children
[1,2,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[3,4] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Jas 5:16). (1984). Zondervan.
Thank you Tom, loved it. Sharing it with my congregation!
Thanks for reading. Hope everything is going well during this busy season. Christmas blessing to you.