Preparing our hearts for God’s big plans

SO, we are well and truly into advent now… a time of preparation and waiting…

I am to be a grandparent in 2026! What exciting news for our family…and now we wait… and get prepared for a new baby to arrive.

I wonder what it was like for Mary in the waiting…more so – what of her cousin Elizabeth… she waited so long for a child that she and her husband Zacheriah had given up all thoughts of being blessed with a child of their own.  But now, after a message from an angel, she was going to be a mother.

You know the story, I am sure. Zacheriah didn’t believe the angel, I probably wouldn’t have either to be honest, so the Angel Gabriel said to him, “Because you do not believe me, you will not be able to speak until the baby arrives”, and Zacheriah didn’t speak another word until John was born! I am sure that it was very frustrating for Zacheriah, but I often wonder whether Elizabeth might have enjoyed the silence.

Mary, who had herself been told she was to have a baby - God’s own Son - was also told by the angel about Elizabeth and she rushed off to visit her cousin.  The bible tells us that when Mary arrived, Elizabeth said, “You are blessed Mary and so is the baby you are carrying”, and the baby inside Elizabeth leaps about in excitement.  Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, she knew that Mary was pregnant, she knew that the baby Mary was carrying was special. Mary hadn’t sent Elizabeth a text saying – “Guess what – Im pregnant with God’s Son”, she didn’t email Elizbeth in advance telling her she was going to visit.  When Mary arrived at her home, Elizabeth didn’t rush to Mary, saying “I can’t wait to tell you what has happened to me” instead, she says, “How does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elizabeth has received information from God. She had no way of knowing about what had happened to Mary.  But Elizabeth is humble. It's not about her or Zacheriah it’s about what God has done.

Elizabeth and Zacheriah prayed …a lot… and in His own timing God answered their prayer. God had a plan for them and indeed a plan for their baby John – who grew up, and we know him as John the Baptist. He spent his days telling all who would listen that the Messiah Jesus was coming, and he baptised Jesus in the river. God had a plan for John's life, for Elizabeth and Zachariah’s - just like he does for us.

I wonder whether we live a life that pleases God? Do we always fulfil the work He has planned for us – are we even listening properly? Can we even hear Him in this noisy world we live in? and if He does speak to us, do we even recognise his voice? Maybe God sent you an Angel to tell you a plan, maybe He didn’t… but there is a plan, and when we are introduced to the plan, are we Zachariah or are we like Elizabeth and Mary… accepting, believing and praising God on the way?

We want to glorify God with all we do and speak.  We want to live in a way that seems different and special so that when others look at us, we can point to Jesus. How can we do that every day?? I don’t have a quick fix answer to that, BUT… in this season, let’s remember that trusting God can sometimes mean waiting, or not being certain of what’s coming. But God has a plan for me and for you – so let's stay humble in the wait and use this time to prepare our hearts and be ready for whatever God has planned for us.

Have a blessed and joyful Christmas and let's look forward to whatever God has planned for us.