Our contribution on this Lord’s Day is from Pastor Shanna Neal. Enjoy!
Luke 1:5-7; 11-17; 23-42
Elizabeth was the wife of a priest. She and her husband were old and she had not conceived a child yet she was found righteous in God’s eyes and obedient to His law. One day, while her husband, Zechariah, the priest, was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him. Although her husband was fearful, the angel told him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”.
This was such great news for both Elizabeth and her husband. Elizabeth soon became pregnant and secluded herself for the first five months of her pregnancy. However, she had received the word of God with rejoicing, gladness and praise. She confessed from her heart, “The Lord has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
Elizabeth was soon visited by her relative Mary, who also was carrying a promise of the Father. She was so excited to see her relative Elizabeth, who once was barren and now six months pregnant with the child who would prepare the way for the promised Messiah which she was carrying in her womb. There was one conclusion that these women came to after sharing and seeing each other, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
Consider this…
Sometimes we have desires in our hearts that seem like God is never going to answer. It even feels like maybe our heart’s prayer isn’t important or significant enough that He would be as concerned about them as we are. However, God knew His plan for Elizabeth from the very beginning. It was actually God’s plan that she would bear a son and she wouldn’t remain barren forever. He placed the desire for a child in her initially and had a plan for the exact timing when this child would need to grace the earth. Trusting God and believing that nothing is impossible for Him opens the door to seeing His power in our lives in a whole new way.
The Challenge…
Do you know God has a plan to bring you the desires of your heart? He wants us to trust him and believe Him that nothing is impossible for Him. You may feel that there doesn’t look like there is any hope. Remember, with God, all things are possible.
The Prayer……
Dear God, thank you for the plan you have for my life. Forgive me for those times I have not trusted your Word. Help me to trust you in every area of my life to know that with you all things are possible.
Shanna Neal
Campus Pastor
CLC South Bend, IN