Scripture - Luke 1:76-79 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.
Observation - Zechariah is so overwhelmed with the joy for his son. He received a word from Gabriel that in his old age he was going to have a son with his wife that was well along in years. At the moment this word was spoken Zechariah could not see how there was any possibility of having a child. Yet God's ways are truly above are ways and God blessed Zechariah with a son. You can sense in the ready of the scriptures here - how proud Zechariah is with his new arrival. This boy was going places. God has a purpose for this child. He was born to do something great. Zechariah begins to sing out in song and speaks words directly to his son. Words that have been spoken to him by God. He speaks purpose into his son. He speaks God's direction into his son. He speaks prophetically over his son. Zechariah, while overwhelmed with joy, never loses sight that he has been given this child to raise so that God can fulfill a purpose.
Application - The reading today truly inspired me. I get lost in the words overwhelmed by emotion with Zechariah's response. I wonder what could happen if more of us knew the will of God for our children and could speak words like Zechariah over them. If from the time they were born, if they could constantly hear "You have been born with a purpose." - "God has given you to this world to do something great." I listen to the words of Zechariah as he says "You will give God's people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of sins". He is speaking right to John and telling him that "boy you are going to change the landscape of this world". Zechariah speaks words of purpose over his child and determines to raise him to meet that purpose. I believe many of us need to begin speaking words of purpose over our children. Do we understand God's devine plan for their life? Do we know what God wants to do with them? Do we tell them that they are going to change the world for God? Do we understand that God put them here on purpose? I believe that in a day and age where kids have so many problems they face on a daily basis. They need to come home to a parent speaking words of promise over their lives. I believe God is raising a generation of powerful people on purpose. We better find out His purpose and begin speaking those words over our children.
Prayer - God - remind me everyday to speak words of blessing over my children. You have given me anointed people to raise in my home. Kids that will change the world. Show me your purpose every day and help me to communicate that purpose to them everyday. Thank you for blessing my life with two wonderful, powerful children that have great destiny ahead.
