God hasn't forgotten you!

The Holman Illustrated Study Bible, Hardcover

I thought I should share this. I hope it touches someone. God Works in Mysterious ways, His Wonders to Perform.

The Bible says, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Eccles 3:11)

It had been 400 years since the people of Israel had heard from God when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared to a priest named Zacharias and essentially told him, "God has not forgotten you, Zacharias. He is going to give you a sign." My friend, hear this announcement. God has not forgotten you. He loves you and hears your prayers. It is now your turn to be remembered. Your turn of favour and manifestations has come. As a single person, it is your turn to marry. There is a man or woman waiting for you. You better get ready. As Christians, our turn has finally come, and God had orchestrated events for everything to fall into place. He knows about what is happening in our nations now.

The name Zacharias meant "God remembers." Zacharias married to Elizabeth , whose named meant, "My God is an oath." Clearly the parents of Zacharias and Elizabeth had given prayerful thought to the names they gave to their children, because they would have such a significant fulfillment. My friend, your name is very significant to your destiny. What is the meaning of your name? Do you need to change it? What name do you give to your child?

The Bible tells us that Zacharias was a godly man and that his wife Elizabeth was godly as well. At this time, there were thousands of priests who worked in Israel . A lottery system actually was developed to determine which priest would have the opportunity to go into the temple and offer incense on behalf of the people. It was a once-in-a-lifetime- opportunity. It just so happened that Zacharias' turn had finally come, and God had orchestrated events for everything to fall into place on the day of Zacharias' service. What a mighty, wonderful and glorious God we serve!

This reminds us that sometimes God speaks to us in the mundane, day-to-day activities of life. While we are waiting for big events to come, we fail to understand that sometimes God will work through the ordinary circumstances of life. Sometimes we are waiting for the earth to shake or the fire to come down from heaven, and meanwhile, God is saying, "I am speaking to you right now if you would just tune in and pay attention." My friend, ability to hear His voice and obey is the major key into the realm of His glory and manifestations of His power.


Here, in this set of ordinary events, God intervened as He often did at the situations and affairs of His people. When shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks one night, the angels arrived with the wonderful message of the Messiah's arrival. When a man named Elisha was plowing in his field, the call came for him to become the next prophet for Israel . When a man named Gideon was hiding away in secrecy, an angel came to say, "You're going to be a mighty man of valour." When David was taking care of his father’s sheep in the bush, God remembered him.

My friend, today could be like any other day for you. This month could be like any other month for you. This year, that is about to close, could be like any other year for you. But on the other hand, your life could change today, this month or this year. The supernatural would invade the natural and God would say or do something of great significance in your life. Do you believe? As Zacharias carried out his priestly duties, the wonderful announcement came that he and Elizabeth would have a child-but not just any child. That is shown by the fact that Gabriel himself came to announce his birth. Whenever Gabriel showed up, you knew that something big was going to happen. It was Gabriel who had given Daniel the schedule of the Messiah's arrival, crucifixion and return. It was Gabriel who later appear to Mary and to Joseph. His ministry was directly tied to the announcement to the ministry of Jesus Christ.

Friend, this is the time for God to answer you and announce you. But, you must believe and expect it. Gabriel appeared and said to Zacharias, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John" (Luke 1:13). In the original language, this verse implies that God heard the prayer Zacharias was praying at that very moment. What he was praying for we don't know exactly, but perhaps Zacharias was praying for a son. Gabriel suddenly appeared and said, "God just heard your prayer."

Maybe you, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, have been praying for someone or something for a long time. Perhaps you are even on the verge of giving up. Or maybe you have already given up praying for that husband or wife to come to faith, for that prodigal son or daughter to return, for that healing to take place, or for that door to open. Maybe you are trusting God for that resources, that provision, that resident permit, that character of Jesus, that child, that power of the Holy Spirit, harvest of souls, breakthrough, properity, joy or peace. Looking at the present situation, maybe you think you can’t get that job, that contract or that profit. Or maybe you have concluded that God will never answer your prayer. I have Good News for you. Your turn to be remembered has finally come!

The climatic condition of the day doesn’t warrant Isaac to prosper during the time of national famine and global crisis. But God told him to sow in that season of famine because that time was God’s season and it was His turn to be blessed. Isaac obeyed the word of the Lord, he sowed in that year of famine and the season of God opened unto him for unusual and exceedingly harvests (Gen 26) My friend, listen! When God brings you to His season and says your turn has come, no man or woman, no power or force in hell can stop it. No global crisis can stop or delay it.

Maybe you are thinking it isn't His timing to answer you. Listen, God generally does not alert us to the spiritual activity He does behind-the-scenes. Look at Job! He was not alerted of the discussion between God and satan over him. My friend, if you are praying for something that you believe to be the will of God, then keep on praying in the mean time and don't give up. In the set time, the Lord will intervene as He did with Zacharias and Elizabeth and at that time, you will offer up that same prayer you have offered up so many times and an answer will finally come. Hannah had been going to Shiloh every year offering the same prayer. But the answer came one day at the set time in the season of God when it was her turn. This is the season of God for you to prosper. It is time for you to sow or invest your seeds. The Lord delights to bless His people during famine period. It is your turn to be blessed. Amen.