The Gospel for the first Sunday of Koiahk talks to us about the good news by the Angel to Zacharias the priest about the birth of St John the Baptist.
Zacharias and Elisabeth, the Holy Bible tells us that they were both righteous before the LORD GOD and both of them were asking GOD for one thing only and that was to bless them with a son, they wanted a son. The months and years passed by and the LORD did not answer their prayers, Zacharias grew old and Elisabeth was branded as a barren.  Despite the blameless and righteous life, they were leading the LORD GOD did not answer their prayer.  Sometimes we put our prayers and requests in front of the LORD GOD and the months and years passes by without any answer from GOD, so we start thinking, why the LORD is not listening to my prayers, am I a sinner and because of this HE is not listening to me, is HE not pleased by me?
Be patient….check yourself…you are okay…put your request in front of the LORD GOD and wait, the Psalm says “Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD;”
We ask for something and want it to be fulfilled immediately….and if the response is delayed for few days then we start reacting not nicely towards the LORD, we start blaming HIM and our relation with HIM becomes Half-hearted relationship.  We go to the priest and tell him, you have asked me to pray and put the matter on the Alter, so I did, I prayed, fasted, prayed, put forward my vows and placed the matter on the Alter, the days, months and even years has passed by and the LORD GOD did not answer my prayers.
Wait, be patient.  In the parable of the farmer, the LORD JESUS tells us “Luke 8:15 bear fruit with patience.” “Luke 21:19 by your patience endurance you will gain your souls.”  Wait and be patient.
The Angel appeared to Zacharias, we all know the story, and says to him “Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard;” Ooh, since when? From the first day.
Does this mean that the LORD was thinking about the matter all this time, shall HE offer him a son or not?  No, from day one your prayer has been heard.  This means that from the first day when Zacharias and Elisabeth were married and they asked for a son the LORD GOD said Amen and I shall give you a son, “thy prayer is heard;”
Daniel prayed and after 21 days the Arch Angel came and said to him “Dan 9:23  At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued” this means that from the first day and as you are just putting up your hands in supplication the “commandment was given.”
Okay then, why is this waiting period, what is it for?  This period teaches me to have faith and HE never forgets the prayers put in front of HIM, this is impossible.
Let me tell you something: you can forget, you might ask the LORD for something and then after a while, you forget that…..HE never forgets, HE shall answer and fulfill your prayer in the proper time, as if HE is saying to you do you remember when you have asked for this….I never forget.  The Arch Angel came to Zacharias and said “thy prayer is heard;” the prayer you asked a long time ago is heard.  Then what do name this waiting period?  We call it the fullness of time, and who decides this fullness of time?  It is HIM, not you.
Two things you should not ask about; neither the way nor when HE answers.  HE knows better when and how.
All that Zacharias and Elisabeth asked for was to have a son.  HE gave them in the fullness of time a son, and not a normal son but a very unique son.  This is what the Holy Bible tells us in the letter to the Ephesians “Eph 3:20 Now unto him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” I want to tell you something; when the response delays, rest assured that the response shall be greater than what you has initially asked for, look to Abraham and Sarah they had no son and the response delayed and in the fullness of time HE gave them Isaac, every time you see delaying in HIS response be assured that the response shall be with great glory.  This is exactly what has happened, look and see who St John the Baptist is. The Arch Angel says to Zacharias “Luke 1:13 Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.”  This was all what Zacharias was asking for, but there is more “Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.” What is this special thing?  More yet to come “Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”
This was never heard before that a child “shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb” to prepare a nation well prepared for the LORD GOD.  So if you wait you shall be given something spectacular, of cores because GOD never forgets, just be faithful in your prayer and believe that the LORD has heard it and HE shall response in the proper time.
The LORD GOD always wants to give HIS sons and makes them happy; HE never wants to sadden HIS sons because HE always wants to give HIS sons what is best for them.
Today, take this for you “thy prayer is heard” when, where and how?  Leave this for HIM; HE shall give you something spectacular.