What can we learn about God's attentiveness from "your prayer has been heard"? The Scene: Zechariah Hears the Words Luke 1:13: “But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.’” God’s Ear Is Tuned to His People • The angel does not say, “Your prayer was noticed,” but “has been heard.” Hearing implies active, deliberate attention. • Psalm 34:15—“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” • 1 Peter 3:12 echoes the same truth, confirming that this divine attentiveness extends into the New Testament era. Delayed Is Not Forgotten • Zechariah and Elizabeth were “well along in years” (Luke 1:7). Their prayer for a child had apparently gone unanswered for decades. • God’s timetable surpasses our own; He remembered the prayer even when Zechariah may have stopped voicing it aloud. • 2 Peter 3:9 assures us that the Lord is “not slow in keeping His promise,” but works according to His perfect plan. Individual, Not Generic, Attention • The angel calls Zechariah by name, proving divine attentiveness is personal. • Isaiah 43:1—“I have called you by name; you are Mine.” • Acts 10:31 records a similar statement to Cornelius, showing that individualized care runs through Scripture. Prayer That Aligns with God’s Purposes • John’s birth would prepare the way for Messiah (Luke 1:16–17). God answered a personal longing while simultaneously advancing redemptive history. • 1 John 5:14—“If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” • Our petitions matter, yet God weaves them into a larger, sovereign design. God Listens Even When We Doubt • Zechariah questioned the promise (Luke 1:18). His uncertainty did not negate God’s attentiveness; the prayer was still heard and granted. • Psalm 103:14—He “knows our frame” and remembers we are dust. • The Lord’s faithfulness does not hinge on flawless faith from us. Responding to a Listening Father • Keep praying, even when heaven seems silent (Luke 18:1). • Expect God to answer in His way and time, anchored in His unchanging character (James 1:17). • When answers come, acknowledge and praise Him openly, as Elizabeth did (Luke 1:25). |
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