Your Prayer Has Been Heard

“The angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” (Luke 1:13)

What sweeter words could you hear than “Your prayer has been heard”? Those are words we all long to hear spoken directly to the deepest part of our hearts. Zechariah’s prayer for a child was decades old. A long-suffering prayer. And now, in God’s plan to bring Jesus into the world, those prayers were being answered. Zechariah would have a son who would prepare the way for the Savior.

What have you prayed for this past year? Rest assured, “Your prayer has been heard.” In the Christ-child, your prayers and God’s promises intersect.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

The Amen – the final answer, the “let it be so”, the bottom line truth. Christ, the Amen, is the hook we hang our heavy prayers upon, the resting place for pleas that go beyond words, the living answer that transforms our wishful thinking into hopeful anticipation.

As you celebrate the Baby born today, realize that there’s room in that straw-filled stable for you and your prayers. There’s room to come lay your requests down in that musty manger, and as you set down those prayers, pick up the fullness of the Baby.