Have you ever felt like your prayers were not heard? Sometimes it feels that way when God says “no” to things we are hoping he will say “yes” to, but it also feels like our prayers are being ignored when God’s unspoken answer is “not yet”. That is what happened for Zechariah and Elizabeth. They obeyed the Lord’s commandments, yet their prayers for a child seemed to go unanswered year after year until they were both very old. When Zechariah was chosen by lot to “enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense” in the Temple as part of his duties as a priest, the angel, Gabriel, appeared to him and stated, “your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13 NIV). Not only had Zechariah’s prayers been heard, but he and his wife were going to be the parents of John the baptizer, the one who would prepare people for the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:17). Elizabeth and Zechariah’s story in Luke 1 reminds us to continue praying persistently even when we become weary. The story also reminds us to trust in God’s timing.

 

For a full version of this Your Faith Journey devotional download the Worship Guide from the Avon UMC website: www.AvonUMC.com

 

The Your Faith Journey Bible verses for this week are listed below:

 

Sunday (11/29)

Today I am going to offer God ____________________________.

 

During the worship service God revealed ___________________________________________________________________.

 

Monday (11/30)

Read Psalm 80:1-7 and use the words to guide your prayer.

 

Tuesday (12/1)

Read Isaiah 1:11-20 and pray in response to what you read.

 

Wednesday (12/2)

Read Luke 1:1-25 and pray in response to what you read.

 

Thursday (12/3)

Read Psalm 141:1-2, then try lifting your hands as you pray while using the acrostic below as a guide:

Adoration (praise God for who He is)

Confession (seek God’s forgiveness for specific things)

Thanksgiving (tell God what you are thankful for today)

Supplication (share requests on behalf of others and yourself)

 

Friday (12/4)

Read Psalm 143:1-10 and use the words of the psalmist to guide your prayer.

 

Saturday (12/5)

Reflect upon the past week, and re-read verses or phrases that stood out to you. The following questions may be helpful as you reflect:

How did you see, hear, or encounter God during this past week?

Who needs to hear about your experience sometime in the coming days?

 

*To download the entire Worship Guide, which includes the extended version of the Your Faith Journey Guide, go to www.AvonUMC.com.