Advent Reflections

For 400 years the people of God had waited. “There were no visions, no prophets, no word from Yahweh, only rituals and routines to maintain a connection to the Lord.” Sacrifice after sacrifice, feast after feast, offering after offering, year after year. Could God not have come after 100 years? Or maybe 150? Surely at 200. No, not yet. Things were not prepared.

There was a man and his wife waiting too. Sacrifice after sacrifice, feast after feast, year after year, prayer after prayer, and still no child. And now it had been too long. Could God not have answered them after 1 year of infertility? Surely after 3 or 5. 10 would have been long enough. No, not yet. Things were not prepared.

Finally He broke in, choosing the pinnacle of an old priest’s career. The lots were cast, Zachariah’s name was chosen. Just once would a priest enter the Holy of Holies to burn the incense. His time, after decades of priesthood and service, had arrived. It was here, the moment God had been waiting for. “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.”

God had not forgotten His people, and God had not forgotten this old priest. In His tender care, He was setting into motion events that would not only save the people from their sins, He was fulfilling an old couple’s most prayed for request. It was here we find God ushering in the arrival of the Messenger to tell the world of His Messiah. “He would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

—

Seamlessly, God is moving the pieces of history once again towards a great moment. Year after year, decade after decade, century after century has passed since Christ left this earth. When will He return again? This year? Next? In 10? Maybe things are not yet prepared.

I am confident that as I write this, many of us are praying for  some of the same things that we started the year praying for. Things have felt slow, unmoving, maybe even worse. We wake up struggling to feel forgotten by God. 

Just like God had not forgotten the children of Israel, or an old priest and his wife, He has surely not forgotten you. Things that make no sense to us now, someday will be revealed. You do not have to wait for your lot to be cast or your moment to be picked. It’s already here.TODAY God has extended to you the invitation to be known and loved, heard and seen, cared for and conformed more to His likeness. Everyday is an opportunity to be in his presence. Everyday is a chance to  be sheltered by the wings of the Most High. 

---

A FEW RESOURCES
As I look ahead to a new year, I’ve been thinking on ways I can cultivate my prayer life. As always, you don’t NEED any of these things, but they can be helpful. 

• This prayer calendar from the Daily Grace Co. is not only beautiful, but it’s practical. It gives you daily prompts to pray for on the calendar spread page, but my favorite part is the journaling section each month where you can write down prayer requests, prayers answered, personal and Bible study goals, and more. 
• This year I read The Lord’s Prayer by Kevin Deyoung and it easily went into my top books on prayer ever read. This would make a great book club book with friends or neighbors. My other top book choice on prayer would be Donald Whitney’s, Praying the Bible. 
• Everything a Child Should Know About Prayer won’t only teach your kids, it will teach you too. 
• Write down and commit to praying through these questions heading into the new year: “Whose salvation will I pray the most fervently for this year?” “What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?” 

*Links are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission through purchased products.