Too often we get hung up on the details instead of just accepting what we’re given.
Luke 1 11-19 “11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 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.”
Imagine if you will that you really wanted a red Mustang GT. You’d been hoping and wishing that somehow you could have one for years but it just didn’t seem to be working out and now, since it had been so long, you had pretty much decided it just wasn’t going to happen. One day at work for no apparent reason a genie appears next to your desk. He says, don’t worry everything is going to be all right, your wish will be granted. There will be a 2016 fire engine red Mustang GT in your driveway when you get home. I have the keys right here and the title is in your left hand desk drawer. I’ve made sure to put the high performance package on it so you and your wife will be sure to enjoy it. What would you say?
Would you say, “Oh, man, how am I going to pay for the licensing and my insurance will just be through the roof!” Or, would you say, “I’m going to have to call my wife, right after I call security!” Or would you say, “Thanks a lot, gimme the keys!” Somehow, in the face of incredible good fortune and blessedness,
Zechariah questioned how it could all work out and be possible rather than just saying “Great! Thank God!” Such is the inclination of all of us I’m afraid.
We ask for things in prayer. We pray that blessings will be bestowed on us, things that will enrich our lives and make them whole. We yearn for that something that we know will give us joy and fulfillment beyond our wildest dreams. We believe that thing is the key to our happiness. And when God pours out the good stuff on our lives we look at it and say, “How will I know this is actually going to happen for me? There are so many reasons why it can’t. It never has before. I’ve wanted it for so long. I realize this is a huge gift, but how’s it all going to work?”
Imagine for a second. What would it be like if we just said, “Great! Thank God!” and then let things unfold as He intended? What’s so wrong with that? Give it a try sometime.
Where and in what way do you need to get out of your own way and accept the gifts that God has given you? How would that feel?