Our story continues today in Luke 1:18-22 with Zechariah, the priest, talking with the angel Gabriel. His first words to the angel were words of doubt. He doubted God’s ability to make a child happen for he and Elizabeth. His doubting heart and words of disbelief brought condemnation from Gabriel in the form of muteness that would last until the child was born.
“Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years. 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
After leaving the temple, the people Zechariah met could tell he had seen a vision and realized he could not speak. Consider Elizabeth’s reaction to the impossible news, “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1:25 By contrast Elizabeth accepted as possible the impossible since it came from God.
What is your reaction to God’s power, His plans, His blessings? Do you doubt that God can do what He promises? Do you question His plans? Do you accept His blessings with grace? God knows our hearts. There is no hiding from Him or disguising our motives, tone or real feelings. Being honest with God, brings immediate blessing and a lightness to our souls.
Where do we see God in today’s story? We definitely see God’s power to make Zechariah temporarily mute, but we also see God’s Omniscience; He is all-knowing. God knew what was in Zechariah’s heart, what his doubts were about His power and ability to make things happen as He ordained. God is Omniscient meaning He is never surprised by things that happen, He know all there is to know and nothing can or is hidden from Him. David described God’s Omniscience in Psalm 139:1-4 “You have searched me, Lord, 
and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” David knew what Zechariah forgot that God knows all and can do all things. Zechariah let his human doubts cloud his judgement as he spoke with Gabriel.
As you ponder this story today, look at your heart. Is your response one of faith and trust in our Omniscient God? Be honest with God and open yourself to trust in His loving care and blessings of peace and assurance will flood your soul.
Linda
Can you imagine Zechariah and Elizabeth’s surprise at hearing this news? Their prayers had been heard and the answer was forthcoming. It was not only their prayers but the prayers of the nation of Israel for a Savior, Messiah, that would to come and save them from their sins. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son would go before this coming holy one and prepare the way for Him. What honor and joy they must have felt!
and their son. 
Several years ago, I endeavored to see the Christmas story through the lens of God’s attributes knowing that all God ordains reveals His character to us. His plan and will always brings Him glory and us good. I invite you to join me this Advent Season to journey through the scriptures with an eye towards God’s character and see what wonders we can discover about our Almighty God. Jeremiah 33:3 will be my guiding verse this season- “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” I am asking God to reveal His character to us though the Christmas stories. May we be mightily blessed and find out many things that were previously hidden to us.
James 4:8 promises “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Ephesians 3:12 “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” and Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” These are just a few verses that confirm to us that we can indeed approach God and seek Him through prayer and study. As we draw near to Him this Advent Season, He will meet us just as He has promised.
How have you seen this to be true this season of thanksgiving? Is your mindset towards thanks contagious? “How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul felt that the thanks he had for his fellow believers, for their faith and love for God, caused him to rejoice. He saw God working in their lives and this brought joy and thankfulness to his own worship. I would call that contagious thanks. Have you ever been thankful for someone or something and it caused you to give thanks to God? As we live our lives, we need to look for those things that God gives us that create ‘contagious thanks’ within our hearts. As we give thanks to Him in these situations, God will faithfully create in us a thanks that will be contagious and will result in our being in a constant state of thankfulness and joy. Paul left the Thessalonians with these words in 5:16-18 “
Develop that attitude of gratitude and watch it grow in your own life and then watch it rub off into the lives of those around you.
I was thinking this morning about the designation ‘Black Friday’. It seems that since the 1950’s the day after Thanksgiving has been called ‘Black Friday’. It began as a term to describe the crowds, like the street was black with pedestrians. It then became a day to retailers signifying when they began to turn a profit and moved from the ‘red’ into the ‘black’ as the volume of their sales increased. In the Bible the blackest Friday would be the day of the crucifixion. It was the day when the skies turned black and darkness covered the land. “
sin and death. An angel spoke to them when they got there,
in communion with Him and have our sin’s forgiven. We are free to live a life in Christ that is pleasing to God and that is free from the penalty of death brought on by sin. That Black Friday was the best one in history for you and me.
As you gather around your Thanksgiving table today, let praise and thanks lead your discussion. David expressed it this way in Psalm 107:21-22 : 
you,” declares the 
Paul’s final words to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them shows his pastor’s heart. He told them to take care of one another, be patient, not to seek revenge and always try to do good. Then in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 he includes these thoughts: “
Is this you in all circumstances? Let David’s words be your prayer today.
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 
Take a minute today to thank Him for being the reason for your abundant and abounding thankfulness. He is worthy.
Who is God to you? To King David He was a personal God, one who saved, loved, protected, helped, restored,cared for and directed him throughout his life. In Psalm 118:28-29 David desires to give thanks to his God.
Make God personal today and move into a relationship with Him. 1 John 1:9 tells us how to know Jesus- “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Make this your first Thanksgiving with Him- ask for His forgiveness for the sins you’ve committed. You know the words you’ve used to hurt others, your selfishness, your unkind actions… the list for all of us goes on and on as this is the sin nature we were born with. Put a stop to this circle of sinning and invite Jesus into your life. Like David, you will have a personal relationship with God. That relationship is worthy of all our thanks and praise to Jesus who made it possible. Knowing Jesus will change your life! Praise and thank Him this Thanksgiving for this new life. If you know Jesus, thank Him today for His marvelous grace and forgiveness.
Praise God for His love, sovereignty, omnipotent power, creating all things, protecting, watching and caring for us. We are so blessed that we belong to Him.
Fearless Living 