A Song of Praise

Read: Luke 1: 67-79

How overwhelmed Zechariah must have been! After months of being unable to speak (because he doubted Gabriel's announcement of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John), Zechariah's tongue is suddenly loosened. I can imagine that he would have had lots to say. But the first thing he does is offer praise to God. The first (recorded) words out of his mouth was a song of praise to God and a prophecy about John and Jesus. It is Zechariah's prayer to God about what has happened in the past and what will happen in time to come.

It is an inspiring and a convicting prayer that Zechariah offers. It is inspiring because of its soaring praie to and complete adoration of God. It is convicting because it shows how prayer has been seemingly hijacked by human beings. In this time of year where we are asked by others for our "wish list", I wonder how often our prayers are nothing more than wish lists. How often do we approach God and say "I want...", "I want...", "I want...."? Even if those things for which we are asking are good things, I have to believe that kind of approach takes away from what prayer is and is about. Please don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with asking God for what we want or need! God welcomes and encourages that! The problem is when that becomes the essence of prayer...simply asking for what we want/need and expecting God to fulfill our order. Zechariah provides for us a model of prayer that has nothing to do with the self and everything to do with God!

As you go about your day, I want to encourage you to spend some time in prayer that has nothing to do with needs or wants. I want to encourage you to spend time in prayer simply worshipping and marveling at who God is and what God has done and is doing. Perhaps you could try finishing the following sentences:
-God, I praise you because you have...
- I look forward to the day when you will....
- O God, I am filled with awe and wonder that you...

I am convinced that as our prayers reflect this focus solely upon God, that we will drawn more and more into God's story and what God is doing right now. May you be blessed as you offer your praise and worship to God and may you be drawn ever closer to the Most High.