Zacharias was going about his duties as he ministered to the Lord in the Temple when Gabriel appeared and informed him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, were going to have a child. Zacharias set his mind and heart to disagree with the plans of God. He was instantly muted, crippled in life and expression.
Nine months later it was time for Elizabeth to birth the Plan. (You see, God's plans continue along whether we agree with them or not. It is us who suffer, not Him.) When the time came to name the child Zacharias had come to the point where he was able to align his mind and heart to the Plans of God. That's when everything changed for him.
"His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Immediately he was able to speak. Even in spite of the others who were questioning his agreement of the Plan he remained firm. In addition, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and received the gift of prophesy (Luke 1:67) - AND wrote a song of praise to the Lord! It was evident that, over the course of nine silent months, God had done a deep work in the heart of Zacharias.
Things go well with us when we humble our hearts and agree with God's Plan. We may not like what we hear. We may scoff at the absurdity of it all. But questioning saints do nothing more than snare themselves in their pride and refusal give in. But as we agree with the Plan - regardless of how irrational it seems - and sway to the Greater Understanding we are immediately freed from our bondage and filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the mercy of God.
Has God brought you into a place that you have yet to agree with? Bless him. Agree with him. Sacrifice the logic of your mind and the hurt of your heart to the One who knows all, loves you, and has a Plan. The childlike embracing of the Plan will fill you with his Spirit and enable you to become an instrument of mercy in the world around you (Luke 1:72).
Nine months later it was time for Elizabeth to birth the Plan. (You see, God's plans continue along whether we agree with them or not. It is us who suffer, not Him.) When the time came to name the child Zacharias had come to the point where he was able to align his mind and heart to the Plans of God. That's when everything changed for him.
"His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Immediately he was able to speak. Even in spite of the others who were questioning his agreement of the Plan he remained firm. In addition, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and received the gift of prophesy (Luke 1:67) - AND wrote a song of praise to the Lord! It was evident that, over the course of nine silent months, God had done a deep work in the heart of Zacharias.
Things go well with us when we humble our hearts and agree with God's Plan. We may not like what we hear. We may scoff at the absurdity of it all. But questioning saints do nothing more than snare themselves in their pride and refusal give in. But as we agree with the Plan - regardless of how irrational it seems - and sway to the Greater Understanding we are immediately freed from our bondage and filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim the mercy of God.
Has God brought you into a place that you have yet to agree with? Bless him. Agree with him. Sacrifice the logic of your mind and the hurt of your heart to the One who knows all, loves you, and has a Plan. The childlike embracing of the Plan will fill you with his Spirit and enable you to become an instrument of mercy in the world around you (Luke 1:72).
