Guard Your Words

But the angel said to him, “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.

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” -Luke 1:13,18

Zacharias was a priest under the old covenant. He and his wife were old and had no children. One day Zacharias was fulfilling his duties in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Gabriel told the man that his wife would bear a child named John.

But Zacharias asked, “How in the world am I going to believe this? This can’t work; we’re too old.” In other words, he doubted the word of the Lord that Gabriel delivered to him.

Now, if someone doubts, at some point he will say what he doubts. So to keep Zacharias from speaking his doubts, Gabriel said, “And behold, you shall be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season” (v. 20).

Zacharias’ son, John the Baptist, came to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus; he was a crucial part of God’s plan. If Zacharias had begun to doubt and speak against that divine plan, he could have messed up the whole thing. So, Zacharias was made dumb and was not able to speak until the plan was fulfilled. God wasn’t punishing Zacharias. He was just protecting His divine plan.

Now, God may not strike you dumb, but at times He will tell you to put a guard on your own mouth. Your words can put you on the path of God’s plan for you—or they can throw you into a plan of your own making that leads to defeat. So, protect God’s plan for your life: Guard your words!

CONFESSION:

My words keep me in the midst of God’s plan for my life. I understand what the will of the Lord is, and I speak only in faith over His plan. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I will finish my course with joy!

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999