While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside praying.  Luke 1:10.  

So the scene is set.  Zechariah is in the sanctuary burning incense and there are people outside praying together.  At this point I can imagine God breathing in the smell of incense, and hearing the prayers of His people.  Did they all start praying together….Maybe not the same prayer, but with the same spirit?  

Not with homogeny, but humility

Prayers that don’t necessarily agree with each other, but do agree with God.  I wonder if that’s what prayer is really for?  It’s the opportunity not to get our requests granted, but for God to teach us to align our prayers with His will.   And when we bring another person, or people into that dynamic, we give God the opportunity to align an entire community to His will.  I am sure there were prayers going on at the temple most days, but I always pay attention when details are in a story.  Details are important or they would be left out.  So what does this detail tell me?  

Prayer is important…. Essential even for the work of God to flourish.  There is a humility in prayer, when we “make our requests known to God.”  We ask for what we may need or desire, and then we are told to let go and let God handle it.  Not an easy thing to do, especially when we are told to have joy when we do it!  

I like to think of that day and the prayers that were being said.  Not perfect prayers, but the humble requests of every day people.  People just like you and me.  And I pray the hope that is revealed in the angels words to Zechariah, “God has heard your prayer,”  would give us the encouragement needed to keep praying and let God do his miraculous work!