It’s audio devo day! This will be our last for this year (though the regular devos will continue). Grab a mug of hot cocoa, snuggle up, and enjoy this special Christmas edition here:
(Encouraged by this? Know someone else that needs to hear this today? You can either share today’s blog link with them, or look up my Feeding on Jesus podcast for sharing and subscribing. You’ll find it at these links on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and most other podcast platforms, with episodes identical to these audio devos!)
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Let’s think about this for a moment. Just six verses earlier, we learn that Zechariah and Elizabeth are both “advanced in years” (v. 7). They are elderly. White hair frames their wizened faces and their steps are slow and measured. The age when childbearing naturally happens has long ago come and gone for them. It has left them, painfully, without any children. So, would this old man (as he called himself in the conversation with Gabriel) have been praying, still, for a son?
Probably not. For years, no doubt they had sought this blessing with tears, beseeching Heaven with groans that words cannot express. However, menopause mercilessly came anyway. I can only imagine that those once passionate pleas had petered off into silent sadness. After enduring decades of heartbreaking infertility, they had most likely resigned themselves to barrenness and empty arms.
What prayer, then, was Gabriel referring to? A closer look at the Greek gives us a hint. The word for “prayer” there is deesis, and can be translated, “prayer you don’t even pray anymore.”*
What an astounding thought! The Lord is even in the business of answering prayers that we have long since stopped praying! When hope has been deferred so long that it has died within our souls, our prayers live on still in our Daddy’s heart. The eternal God has not forgotten the heartwrenching petitions that we poured out in His presence.
Zechariah and Elizabeth had long ago grieved the death of their dream for offspring. So can you imagine what a shock it must have been to see aging Elizabeth’s abdomen actually begin to swell? What overwhelming amazement must have been theirs, to feel Baby John’s little feet kicking from within her womb!
Daddy God has surprises of this same caliber planned for you. Resurrected hope is one of the many breathtaking themes of the Christmas story. Today He wants to breathe new life into prayers that have faded into silence on your lips.
Lean in and sense His heart. He deeply delights in bringing dreams to life that we have long since given up on. Is there a prayer that you once prayed with anguished tears, that you have let go of? In this moment, let this verse sink into your spirit: “Your prayer has been heard…”
*The Passion Translation, Luke and Acts, p. 11, footnote d.
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Did you put yourself in the story? Can you imagine the astonishment? Do you believe that God wants to stun you, too, with His answers to your prayers?
Feeding On Jesus 
Throughout the Bible, God’s Word feeds us (as your blog title reminds). Only God can choreograph this chain of events.
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Amen, Richard! And His choreography is AMAZING!
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GREAT teaching. I wonder if you, like me, have wondered how years later when John comes out (out of the desert with the cry repent! ) and later says of Christ Behold the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sins of the world. This same child beloved of ELIzabeth AND Zachariah,,, ,,Where did he spend his childhood? Did his parents live long or did he have foster parents? There is no way of ascertaining and it may not matter but the Truth is His Life was born into God’s purposes and his birth was a God miracle. An Answer to prayers. Thank you.
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Huh, I never had considered that question about John’s life; how the old age of his parents would have affected his growing up. You got me thinking with that one!
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Love the audio devos.
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Thank you again so much, Barb! ❤
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I had never thought of this before! I’m glad my Christmas Bible lessons with my granddaughters has been postponed. When we get back together, we’re going to start with this passage – so thank you!
https://seekingdivineperspective.com/2020/12/04/home-school-bible-class/
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You are most welcome! Praying blessings over that special time ❤
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Yeah, it’s always great when God shows up in times when we have forgotten about what we wanted most at one time! Can’t wait for the Lord to someday show up and blow my mind like that!
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I am smiling joyfully, imagining Him doing that for you, my precious sister ❤ 🙂
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Moved by this – reflecting on the prayers I no longer pray – and if there are any? Bless you Jennifer. Happy advent. x
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To you as well, dear Dawn! May Holy Spirit breathe new hope into the depths of you through His love throughout this month 🙂 ❤
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Thank you for this inspiring teaching. It is so amazing how going to the original language, in this case, Greek brought about a whole new perspective on a familiar story. I love the passion heard in your voice through the audio devotional. Blessings.
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Aw, thank you so very much, my sister. That actually really means a lot to me. Really grateful for the encouragement ❤
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I love the message of this post, thank you!
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You are welcome, Estera! ❤ 🙂
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💕✨
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Wow, very insightful. Enjoyed and deeply appreciated this post. Thank you for sharing
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And thank you so much too for your encouraging words! I’m so glad you were blessed!
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Cool audio devotion
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