Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.  All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him” (Luke 1:63-64).   

The crowds were dazzled at the time.  How many of them later would follow where John would lead them?  How many would look the other way when John was imprisoned?  We may be dazzled for a moment, but when faith takes root, the greatest miracle of all for any one of us happens.  God has not come to impress us, but to release us from the condemnation that sin has brought upon the world.

Lord, like others, I too love the obvious.  But I often do not see the simple and humble transformation that happens to those who come to You in faith.  Help me to celebrate and rejoice in the truth that every day You are performing so many miracles.  Let me see Your hand of action in the world.  Guide my eyes to see so that I may speak of the truth of Your presence in our lives.

Lord Jesus, the Father opened the mouth of one who at first did not believe to utter these  words which were words of obedience.  Open my mouth to speak what is right and true.  Lead me so that I speak Your word of salvation to those whom I meet.  Guide me knowing that Your hand is upon me.  Take away whatever hinders me in order that I may be bold in the faith You have given me.  Amen.

And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.  And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God” (Luke 1:63-64).

It is not that every time You are obedient to the Lord everything will be miraculous, but perhaps, in a way, it is.  All of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents.  “Graced by God,” the meaning of the name, is given to the one who will lead the way for Jesus.  The Lord has purpose for you and when there is obedience, the grace of God is unleashed before and in you.  Listen to the Lord, not the crowd.

Lord, You have wonderfully made each one of us for Your purpose.  Help me to learn obedience so that I may humbly walk in the way of Your leading.  Whether others see the miracle that You are performing does not really matter.  You are miraculously transforming all who come in faith to be Your children.  Guide all the faithful in the way You know we need to go.  Lead all to be faithful to every call You give.

Lord Jesus, You are the grace of the Father.  You are the One who gives us the ability to act in faith to come to the Father.  Help me by Your grace to move through whatever obstacles come my way so that I may learn how to be obedient to every direction that comes from You.  Lead me now and always to humbly submit to Your call and to reject every other call to the contrary no matter how many things of this world press in.  Amen.  

“And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”  And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called” (Luke 1:61-62).

You cannot break tradition!  What has gotten into you?  We have always done it that way.  The world, while tolerating all types of garbage, focuses upon trivial things and gives you a bad time.  The mother must have some kind of postpartum thing going on, what does the father want?  Mind you, names were much more important for them then, but the pattern of meddling is still present.

Lord, where I become excited over some small things that really do not matter, help me to leave behind the temptation to give into the world’s indignation.  Where there are those around me who are in a feeding frenzy of correctness, help me to go the other way.  Lead me to be of a sane mind that pays attention to what is important to You and leave behind what is not.  Guide me to listen and follow Your guidance.

Help me, Lord Jesus, for You know what it is like to have the crowds pressing in.  Those around You wanted You to do all sorts of things.  Help me to look beyond them to see You so that I may hold fast to what is the right thing to do.  Guide me through all of the anxiousness in this world so that I may do the Father’s will.  Lead me to that place where I will hear You give me my new name.  Amen.

“And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.  But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59-60).

The turning point of this story is helpful to us.  Those outside the faith have expectations and they are laid upon us.  Well-meaning though they may be, it is not what will happen.  In those days, the word of the father was final.  Elizabeth was following the command of the Lord, but the culture of those days caused those around her to wonder what she was thinking.  Why would this first son not be named after the father?

Lord, I am very presumptuous and expect others to act the way I expect them to act.  Help me to be sensitive in the way You would have me be and be sensitive so that I do not act according to the way of the world, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to see those places where I am reacting with cultural things so that I may be sensitive to Your word when it calls me to do something else.

Lord Jesus, throughout Your ministry You showed care for others and were willing to break through the human customs of the day.  Help me to understand that I too need to break through those customs that hinder me from doing what You would have me do.  Aid me not to expect others to act the way I want, nor impose my understanding upon them.  Guide me to be a help to my neighbor.  Amen.

“Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.  Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her” (Luke 1:57-58).

When obvious miracles happen, people rejoice.  Things happen that have more significance than we often realize. Scripture tells us to rejoice.  We are here reminded, whether or not we think it is significant, to rejoice in the work of the Lord.  The Lord has mercy for the whole world.  The Lord offers grace to those who believe so that we may learn how to rejoice in every circumstance.

Lord, I often spend more time complaining about circumstances than rejoicing in Your goodness.  Help me to understand that each day You grant is a miracle and that You are always at work in each of us.  Help me to rely upon Your Spirit as You speak to me so that I do not speculate upon what to do but walk in the way You are directing me.  Bring me out of myself to live life as it is to be lived.

Lord Jesus, help me to join in where my neighbor is living.  If they are weeping, help me to weep with them.  If they are rejoicing, remind me to rejoice with them.  In and through all things, lead me to be sensitive to those around me knowing that You will teach me what it means to truly love my neighbor.  Teach me all that I need to learn and grant me a willing heart to receive the teachings You give.  Amen.

“And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home” (Luke 1:56).

A significant amount of time was spent together for these two women who were carrying two significant people in the history of the world.  What happened during that time?  Beyond the obvious bonding of Mary and Elizabeth, we do not know.  Focus upon what the Lord does give us, not upon what we do not know.  We each experience many things and the Lord uses them to grow in us the Christ life.

Lord, help me to live the life You have given me.  There are many experiences I do not acknowledge as being anything significant, but You use all things to conform each of us to the new life we are given through grace.  Help me through the anxieties of this world so that I may learn how to live as You would have me live.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk by Your guidance.

Lord Jesus, we know very little about your first thirty years other than that You spent time growing up as we all do.  Help me to not focus on trying to learn what only speculation can answer; but instead focus upon what I can do.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go, spending time where I need to spend time and learning what it is that I need to be taught.  Amen.

“He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:54-55).

To the one who knows that God prevails, there is mercy upon mercy.  The promises of the Lord to all people will be fulfilled.  Those who, through faith, believe that God is Sovereign, will receive the sure hope of everlasting life.  God’s word has gone out and as many as believe will receive the promised redemption which has been granted through the coming of the Son.  He has accomplished the Father’s will.

Lord, with such simplicity You have shown over and over again Your love and mercy.  Help me to understand that it is not so much what I do, but who I am in You that will lead me out of the futile strivings of this age.  Guide me out of the way of thinking which depends upon my thoughts in order that I may receive Your word. Let the seed of Your word germinate and grow in me.

 Lord Jesus, You patiently went through a life of experiencing its various stages.  You were an infant, a toddler, an adolescent, a teenager, and then an adult.  You know what it is like to live a daily life like ours in this world.  Help me to understand that You have purpose in each stage of life as You grow in me Your image.  Guide me to follow You every step of the way as You lead me.  Amen.

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.  “He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed” (Luke 1:52-53).

Who is it that moves history forward?  The proud ascend to their thrones and are then thrown down.  The haughty make oaths and declare their supremacy, but they too end up in the pit.  The rich have their fill but are poor inside.  What is it that you want?  Is it not the purpose for which You were created?  The Lord is Sovereign and it is His will that shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lord, You know how anxious I become over the state of things.  I see the insanity of this age and too often join in the constant celebration of the rich and haughty.  Lead me out of this world’s way of thinking to know that history is in Your hands.  You have called me to live into a new life which humbly follows You, going where You lead me.  Guide me so that I follow You and not the world.

Lord Jesus, You chose to be born in humble circumstances.  You have shown that it is not wealth or privilege which elevates us, but the mercy and grace which You have won for those who believe.  Lead me in this new way of living so that I may become increasingly like You as I live each day.  Guide me to know that in You alone do I have hope and an eternal future.  Amen.

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.   “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart” (Luke 1:50-51).

The mercy of the Lord abounds to all people, which is for those who will turn to Him knowing that He is the Lord of all. But there are those who come in the fear of the Lord and those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  You were wonderfully made, but you were not made only for yourself.  Your Creator calls you to Himself.  Sadly, there are those who turn in on themselves.

Lord, I see the difference.  Help me to understand very clearly that at any time any of us can enter into Your mercy, but many will turn away from You and set up themselves as the center of their being.  Lead me out of the mess of my mind to understand clearly that You are the Creator and I am the created.  There is only one kingdom and that is Your kingdom.  Lead me into Your kingdom.  Your kingdom come!

Come, Holy Spirit, and take me out of the proud thoughts I have in order that I may humbly live the life which is of Your creation.  Thank You for the abundant mercy You give which enables me to walk in Your presence.  Help me to learn what it means to live for others and not just for myself.  Guide me to become what You are leading me to become so that I may be a child of the heavenly Father.  Amen.

“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold,  this time on all generations will count me blessed.   “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name” (Luke 1:48-49).

The Mighty One, Creator of all things, who holds all together and knows everything has regard for the humble state of His bondslaves.  God is the God of love.  He cares for that which He has created.  He considers you and calls you to come into His presence.  Through you He can do mighty things, not least of which is bring you into His presence eternally.  Learn holiness from the One who is Holy.

Lord, my arrogance gets in the way, and I think I know what I do not know.  Help me to have an attitude that is willing to learn from You, the One who knows all things.  Guide me away from the arrogance that is all around me in this world to understand that I am Your bondslave.  I was born in bondage to sin, and You have paved the way for me to be freed from sin to know that I am always dependent upon You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set the captive free.  You provide all the grace I need that I may live into the life You have prepared and set before me.  Guide me so that I seek You first knowing that You alone are able to lead me in the way I need to go.  Lead me today, my Savior, through those obstacles which will come my way.  Help me to learn holiness from You.  Amen.