Prepared for the LORD

Sometimes we may feel like we've been chosen by chance.

Maybe our narrative sounds something like this: "Oh, I only started writing when my kids were small for something to do in the home."

Or maybe, "I couldn't find the stories I wanted to read, so I thought, hey, why not write them?"

Or maybe, "I've always been creative, but sometimes I don't feel chosen at all..."

If that's you, don't worry. That's me too.

Turn with me to Luke 1 and the story of Zechariah. Here, Zechariah is on duty, serving, and he was seemingly chosen by chance to enter the sanctuary and carry out the most sacred task.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

(Luke 1:8-12 NIV)

Zechariah was terrified - I mean, who wouldn't be? Can you imagine...

But Zechariah had been praying, worshipping, and serving - doing all the things - and yet he didn't expect a response. He wasn't prepared for a divine encounter. He was just doing his job as a priest, but God had placed him in that position for that exact moment so that Zechariah would experience the glory and majesty of God. Not only through the divine visitation, but through the miracle that would follow.

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.”

(Luke 1:13-17)

And just wait for it, I love this next part...

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

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. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

(Luke 1:18-25)

The miracle wasn't just about Zechariah. And as important as John's ministry would be - their baby would go on to become John the Baptist - it wasn't only about that either. There was also Elizabeth, disgraced, unable to conceive, older than most mothers, and yet God saw her and answered the prayer of her heart.

Friend, are you ready for a divine encounter?

Sometimes it may feel like we are creatives by chance, but let's be clear - you have been chosen. Set apart.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

(Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

And God wants to meet you there. The beautiful thing about writing as worship is that by inviting the Holy Spirit into our writing and surrendering it to Him, we can experience that divine encounter. Gabriel may not manifest beside you, but because of the finished work of Jesus Christ we have the gift of God's spirit alive within us.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(James 4:8 NIV)

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

So draw near to Him, my friend. If you haven't already, start a prayer journal for your writing and see how He moves. Pray as you brainstorm, research, draft, edit. Surrender your words to the God of the universe and see how He works through them.

Watch the miracle unfold.

And remember, it may not be just for you. There is someone else out there who needs your work, who God is going to speak to through your writing.

And you never know what ministry can flow from a heart prepared for Jesus.