“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.’” Luke 1:11-13
Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, appeared to Zacharias while offering incense in the temple and told him not to be afraid because his prayer was heard and his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son he was to name John. Though Zacharias’ prayer may have been years ago while Elizabeth was still in her childbearing years, God answered it in His own time and for His purpose: to send John — God is gracious — into the world to prepare His people for the coming of the Lord, their Messiah and Savior.
Hear my prayers, O God, and grant them in accord with Your perfect will and purpose that I may repent of my sinful ways and trust in Jesus, Your Son, and my Savior, for forgiveness, pardon, and life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]