Pastor Tyrone S. Hillman, Jr
St Luke 1:5-17 (ESV)
Zechariah is a reminder that parents should grow confidently in the importance of prayer knowing that God specializes in reversing the most challenging situations. When parents make a commitment to prayer; they model faithfulness to their assignment even if there are delays, they understand that prayer strengthens the faith within their faithfulness, and they exercise this living faith by intentionally parenting their children in a manner that glorifies God.
Point #1: Model faithfulness to your assignment even when there are difficult delays. Luke 1:8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
Point #2: Prayer strengthens the faith in our faithfulness. Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Point #3: Praying parents exercise faith by intentionally parenting. Luke 1:15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Journaling Prompts:
How should we respond to frustrating delays when it seems like God has forgotten about you? What can the discipline of prayer accomplish in our faith?
How can we shift our experience with suffering? What should we do in our suffering? How do we suffer well—in the way Christ calls us to?
