Luke Chapter 1

​“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear   in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Luke 1:67-79 (NIV)
 
     One detail we should not miss, is what Zachariah’s first spoken words were after a nine-month vocal sabbatical. “Immediately, his mouth was opened, and his tongue set free, and he began speaking, praising God (Luke 1:64, NIV).” What excitement, praise, wonder, and awe Zachariah must have stored up in his heart after nine months of enforced silence. To have been in the presence of an angel, heard the words of the heavenly host, and have watched his wife throughout her growing pregnancy to the birth of his son, one can only imagine how Zachariah must have been literally bursting out in praise and worship to God! 

​     So, it should be with all of us when we have been set free in Christ and been a recipient of His underserved grace. Our hearts should likewise be overflowing with praise, gratitude, and thanksgiving to the Lord. For this reason, it is important for us to remember God’s daily acts of grace, provision, and love in our lives. Many times, we fall into the trap of looking for high mountain top experiences or big events. Such strivings may cause us to overlook the everyday wonders which God has for each of us. If we adopted an attitude of daily gratitude and appreciation for God’s ordinary blessings, would not praise and worship flow from our own mouths?
     How often do we take time to be silent and sit in the awe and wonder of God like Zachariah must have done during his nine months of vocal rest? How often do we soak in the presence of God and be still? During times of uncertainty and the unknown, it is vital we hide ourselves in Christ and make Him our refuge. When we do this, we are comforted and renewed by His Spirit and fortified by the power of His Word. After all, it is not our own strivings which restore our soul but God, Himself. He is the one who has come to redeem us. He is the one who has raised up a horn of salvation and who saves us from our enemies. He is the one who enables us to serve Him with holiness, righteousness, and without fear all the days of our lives. Praise God!