Good Morning.  Here’s Today’s Nugget to chew on:

“Don’t Talk Yourself Out of It”

Luke 1:11-14, 18, 20 Living Bible (TLB)

11-12 Zacharias was in the sanctuary when suddenly an angel appeared, standing to the right of the altar of incense! Zacharias was startled and terrified. 

13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! For I have come to tell you that God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. 14 You will both have great joy and gladness at his birth, and many will rejoice with you. 

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “But this is impossible! I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”  20 And now, because you haven’t believed me, you are to be stricken silent, unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time.”

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Further Thought:  In today’s passage, Zacharias had prayed and asked God for a child in his old age. So, we see that God sent an angel to confirm the answer to his prayer.  Now, once he received his confirmation, you would have thought he would have responded with great joy.  Not so, he responded, speaking doubt, telling God how impossible it is for an old man and an old woman to have a child.  I asked the same question:  Why did he pray?  But here we see the grace of God in action.  God silenced him to prevent him from talking himself out of his promised child, “John the Baptist”.  You see, God wanted Zacharias to have a child, and once he asked, God did his part by not allowing him to speak for a season, so it would manifest in his life.  Now God may not cause us to be unable to speak for a season, but we can always expect His grace when we fall short. He may allow some people in your life to walk away so He can get you to your desired destination. Unfortunately, some of your friends and associates are not qualified to go where God desires to take you, so He has to separate you from them.  But your cooperation is required.  

Understand that if what you are asking for is in God’s Word, He wants you to have it.  But it’s our part to ask, and to believe we receive it by faith even before it manifests.  Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that our God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or think.  He’s not in the business of seeing His children fail, but is committed to seeing them prosper and have good success.  So when you pray, simply believe you receive, don’t change your confession [Hold fast to what God said that belongs to you, that’s your part], and leave the results and the how to God.  Luke 12:32 says, God delights in seeing you inherit all He has left.  Now, don’t talk yourself out of what belongs to you.

Have a great day, and keep chewing on God’s Word.

Additional references:  Mark 11:24; Hebrews 10:23; Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 103:1-4 and 2 Peter 1:3-4

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“2026 Declaring the Goodness of God”