Today’s Reading: Zechariah 9-11

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.…
Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon.
Come back to the place of safety,
all you prisoners who still have hope!
I promise this very day
that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. – Zechariah 9:9,11-12

THE LORD WILL APPEAR.

The Lord is coming. He is coming on a donkey. The Lord will come and free the captives, giving us hope. He calls His people to RETURN to Him so that He can SAVE them. The Shepherd GATHERS His sheep and RESTORES their beauty.

The Lord will appear above his people;
his arrows will fly like lightning!
The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn
and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people,
and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones.
They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine.
They will be filled with blood like a bowl,
drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.
On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people,
just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.
How wonderful and beautiful they will be!
The young men will thrive on abundant grain,
and the young women will flourish on new wine. – Zechariah 9:14-17

THE LORD WILL CARE.

The Lord will appear, will sound the ram’s horn, will attack like a whirlwind, will protect his people, will defeat their enemies, will rescue. He will care for His flock, strengthening them and restoring them because He has compassion on them. He will come to redeem them, because He loves them. God’s people will shout in battle, will be filled, will sparkle like jewels, will thrive, and will flourish. How wonderful and beautiful they will be!

So I cared for the flock intended for slaughter—the flock that was oppressed. Then I took two shepherd’s staffs and named one Favor and the other Union. – Zechariah 11:7

But the sheep rejected the shepherd who had redeemed them. So the Lord took the staff called Favor and broke it. Then He took the staff called Union and He broke it. The Lord had made a covenant with them but it was now broken and they had lost his favor. Judah & Israel had been family and now their union was no more.

“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” – Zechariah 12:10

THE LORD WILL CLEANSE FROM SIN.

“Strike down the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered,
and I will turn against the lambs.
Two-thirds of the people in the land
will be cut off and die,” says the Lord.
“But one-third will be left in the land.
I will bring that group through the fire
and make them pure.
I will refine them like silver
and purify them like gold.
They will call on my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘These are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” – Zechariah 13:7b-9

Father God, we thank you for the grace you extend to us when we seek forgiveness. We are blessed by the ways in which you shepherd us and we thank you for your protection. Lord, thank you this morning for this reminder that you are a shepherd who loves us and who redeems us — a shepherd who was willing to rescue the flock marked for slaughter. We pray that you restore our nation back to a place of union and cleanse us from our sins, so that we can receive your unmerited favor. Amen.

“Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets. I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.” – Zechariah 3:8-9

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 7-8, Psalm 109

As God’s people were returning from exile to a city and land that had been destroyed, they were discouraged with the work that lay ahead of them — the task God was calling them to. God reminded them, as He sometimes reminds us, that their current condition was a direct result of their own sinful decisions.

There are times when we choose to do our own thing, making a mess of what God intended to be a masterpiece.

“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit…Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.” – Zechariah 7:11-14

What was the message they had refused to listen to? What did they refuse to do that God was telling them to do? Look at the two verses right before this passage: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against one another (Zechariah 7:9-10).

SEEK TRUTH AND MAKE PEACE

God wanted them to put the needs of others above their own desires and they refused. God wanted them to honor the truth and love God by loving others. They chose self-preservation instead, only to find out that, by trying to build a life for themselves, they had instead destroyed their chance of truly experiencing life. They had turned their beautiful promised land into a desert. They made a mess out of what could have been a masterpiece.

God went from being an angry God determined to punish to a God of grace determined to bless His people once again. But his instructions remained the same as before.

“But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord…The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.” – Zechariah 8:16-19

LOVE TRUTH AND LIVE PEACE

God was ready to dwell among His people — to bless them with His presence — but He demanded they live in peace with one another and treat each other justly. Sometimes this is where we struggle in families or in churches. We pray for God to bless our efforts, to bless our growth, but we stubbornly hold onto grudges. We sit back and wait for someone else to come begging for forgiveness instead of seeking restoration with each other. Now that’s what I would call a mess — a missed opportunity to allow the hand of God to create a masterpiece. Truth and peace – God would love to turn our mourning into joy and celebration but we must first love truth and live peace.

REVEAL TRUTH AND RESTORE PEACE

When God lives among us, He creates a sense of community. You may say this is impossible for the group of people you are thinking of right now, but God says nothing is impossible for Him! Invite Him to dwell among you and He can REVEAL TRUTH and RESTORE PEACE into any situation. Look at what He did for the Israelites when they returned to their war-torn country.

“And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem…Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play…All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? Says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Zechariah 8:3-6

When we have fixed our relationships with each other and God’s presence is dwelling among His people, then we can be about the task of doing what God has told us to do! We must first obey God’s command to love Him by loving others and then we will be ready to follow His calling in our lives. Then, when PEACE IS RESTORED, He strengthens us with His presence and tells us:

“Be strong and finish the task!” and “So don’t be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!” – Zechariah 8:9,13

And this is my favorite part! When we are living in truth and peace, and God’s presence is living among us, it will become evident to all those around us. They will see the difference God’s presence is making in our lives and they will want to become a part of it. Instead of seeing a mess, they will see God’s masterpiece. As in Zechariah 8:23, people will see what we have and say, “Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Oh, may God’s presence be evident in our lives today! May others see God living in us and among us in such a powerful way that they want what we have — God’s presence in our lives!

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 3-6, Psalm 87

God chose two men to play an important role in the rebuilding of the Temple and also in the rebuilding of the nation. He placed Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel as governor of Judah (you can find him in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1), and he installed Jeshua son of Jehozadak as high priest (Haggai 2:2).

The passage of Scripture in the third chapter of Zechariah beautifully describes how Jeshua was cleansed from his sins and called by God. Before you read the passage, I ask you to prepare your heart. Picture that this passage is about you. Satan is pointing out all the times you have sinned, revealing all your imperfections; but the Lord is rejecting Satan’s accusations, saving you from the pit of hell and clothing you with redemption. Claim this Scripture today and rebuke Satan for the ways in which he tries to discourage you and tell you that you are not worthy or capable of what God has told you to do. Put yourself in place of Jeshua the high priest, coming out of exile and receiving his call from God.

CALLED BY GOD FOR A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT

Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”

Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here. – Zechariah 3:1-7

My love for you is passionate and strong. So take off the filthy clothes of your past. I have taken away your sins and I am giving you fine new clothes — priestly garments that come with a calling. SO follow my ways and carefully serve me, for I am giving you a job to do.

When the accuser tells you that you cannot do what God has called you to do or that you cannot live the holy life that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies expects, remind him of the Lord’s words to Zerubbabel:

It is not by force nor by strength, but BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain for him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone at the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!” – Zechariah 4:6-7

EQUIPPED BY GOD FOR THE CALL OF GOD

God had commissioned Zerubbabel to rebuild the Temple — not an easy task. God had commissioned Jeshua to rebuild the Temple worship — also not an easy task. But He was not asking them to do it of their own strength. In that regard, the Accuser is right. We are not capable of doing what God is asking us to do. At least not of our own strength. But God equips us, He fills us, He works through us to accomplish His will. Where there seem to be mountains before us, God is capable of leveling the path ahead. And WHEN GOD IS IN IT, GOD WILL BLESS IT!

“…But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I AM WITH YOU, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do NOT be afraid.” – Haggai 2:4-5

Be strong! I have cleansed you and clothed you in new garments. I am the God of what is ahead. I am in the middle of what I am asking you to do and I will bless it. I am the God of your yesterdays and you have been forgiven, so flee from your captivity and stop wearing those filthy clothes. Do not be afraid. I am with you.

Jesus, the name that charms our fears / That bids our sorrows cease / ‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears / ‘Tis life and health and peace / He breaks the power of canceled sin / He sets the prisoners free / His blood can make the foulest clean / His blood availed for me [O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Charles Wesley]

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51 & 80

Return, rebuild, renew, REPENT.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.
Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.
Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me.

Then Haggai asked, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?”
And the priests answered, “Yes.”
Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin.” – Haggai 2:13-14

In order for God to fully RENEW the relationship with His people, He needed them to REPENT. He reminded them of how little their crops produced before they rebuilt the Temple and asked them to look and see how He was now blessing them after the Temple had been restored. “Think carefully,” the Lord said. God desired to bless them but was requiring them to turn from their sin — to repent.

What does God want to do in our lives? In what ways does the Keeper of the silver and the gold — the Keeper of all blessings — desire to bless us?

Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me and I will return to you.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. – Psalm 51:1-2

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19

RETURN, REBUILD, RENEW and REPENT.
RETURN – “Come away!” “Flee from your captivity!” Walk away from your sin and return to me.
REBUILD – Do the necessary work to RESTORE our relationship to where it once was.
RENEW – Make a new covenant with me so that our relationship can be renewed.
REPENT – Turn from your sin so that I can bless you the way I desire to bless you.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:7-10

Repent. Turn from your sin. Return to me and I will return to you.

Today’s Reading: Haggai 2, Psalm 48

Return, rebuild, RENEW, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.
Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

You are getting what you deserve, but here’s how to deserve what you wish you were getting — Return to me and I will return to you. This is essentially what God was saying. God desired to lavish wonderful gifts on His children but He needed to get their attention because His intent was not only that they return to their land, His intent was that they return to Him. He wanted them to RETURN and REBUILD so that He could RENEW His relationship with them.

“Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.” – Haggai 2:3-5

I am here. My Spirit remains among you, so do not be afraid but pursue the calling I have placed on your life. Do not hesitate but follow me with strength and with zeal. Let your love for me ignite a passion within you to serve me.

Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

The people began to fear the Lord and a new enthusiasm for building the Temple was ignited in their hearts. They finished the Temple but realized that the new Temple was nowhere close to the splendor of the previous Temple. God reminded them that He is the keeper of the silver and the gold (2:8). He promised them that a day would come when He would restore glory to His Temple beyond its past glory, just like He was restoring their hearts and igniting a passion within them.

Passion for your house has consumed me… – Psalm 69:9a

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
As your name deserves, O God,
you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
Let all the towns of Judah be glad
because of your justice.
Go, inspect the city of Jerusalem.
Walk around and count the many towers.
Take note of the fortified walls,
and tour all the citadels,
that you may describe them
to future generations.
For that is what God is like.
He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die. – Psalm 48:9-14

Praise God! I am so thankful that our God desires a relationship with us. I am so grateful for His grace that renews a right spirit within us. We are so blessed to experience His Spirit living with us, who is producing a passion for the things of God. God is so good and we are blessed to be loved by Him.

As we enter a new season of life, let’s allow God to ignite a new flame inside of us and give us a new fervor for receiving all that He has for us. Let’s pursue His purposes in the midst of the chaos; let’s chase after our calling knowing that He is our God forever and ever, and we can trust Him to provide.

Renew your passion. Be strong in the Lord. Trust me. I will provide.

Today’s Reading: Haggai 1, Psalm 99

Return, REBUILD, renew, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.
Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.

The people had returned to Judah and started to rebuild the temple, but their enthusiasm soon turned to discouragement and then to apathy. They turned their focus to their own homes and started making a living for themselves without restoring worship back into the community. Here is God’s response:

“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. Your drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes.”

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Army says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills – a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” – Haggai 1:4-11

Some were saying it was the wrong time to start rebuilding the Temple. The foundation had been laid but no growth was taking place. God’s people had settled for an altar on a foundation when God was calling them to so much more.

Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.

Complacency had settled in and the people had made themselves comfortable. They had everything they needed – nice homes, food, drink, clothes, income — but they were not satisfied because the only thing that truly satisfies in Jesus. We can have lots of nice things and our basic needs can be taken care of, but it’s nothing if we are living in disobedience to what God has asked us to do.

So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. – Haggai 1:14

Lord, we pray that you will forgive us for our complacency and wake us up from our apathy. May we hear your voice today calling us to more — calling us to obedience. Lord, break down our resistance and spark a new enthusiasm in us. Help us to see the areas of our life that need repaired; help us to see the areas of ministry that need rebuilt, especially since the destruction of the recent pandemic. Wake up our churches that choose to slumber and give them a renewed passion for building your kingdom. Dust off our bibles and give us a new song. Let us never become so comfortable that we become satisfied with the bare minimums instead of growing in our relationship with you.

Praise him, O heaven and earth,
the seas and all that move in them.
For God will save Jerusalem
and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
and settle in their own land.
The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
and those who love him will live there in safety. – Psalm 69:34-36

Rebuild my house. Create space in your life to worship me. Be satisfied with me.

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 1-2

RETURN, rebuild, renew, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!” – Zechariah 2:6-7

Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.
Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth!
The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel. – Isaiah 48:20

Just as God had promised, the exile for the Hebrews ended after seventy years. Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, conquered Babylon and allowed all of the nations exiled to Babylon to return to their homelands. He did this in order to form alliances with these nations, expecting loyalty in future diplomatic matters. The Jews returned to Judah and Jerusalem. The stories of their return are recorded by the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. God was calling His people to return – return to the Promised Land and return to Him.

“I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’

“Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’” – Zechariah 1:2-6

I once heard someone say, “We may waiver in our faith, but God never waivers in His faithfulness.” That is so true. God is consistent and we can trust that He will do what He says He will do. The same God who was calling to the fickle Israelites to return to Him is offering us grace when we stray away. He opens the way for us to RETURN to Him so that we can once again be drawn into His presence.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.” – Zechariah 2:10-13

What a powerful visual of God’s love for us. He is springing into action on our behalf and happy to do it! He was coming to live among His people in order to show them mercy and carry out His plan of redemption. That’s how much He loves us! He desires to create a path of reconciliation for us to travel as we return to Him — as we flee from our “Babylon”. He came to us so that we could come to Him — so that we could be set free from our captivity. He describes this love for us as passionate and strong (1:14).

Are you praying for a prodigal in your life to RETURN to the Lord? Are you hoping they will turn from the evil ways of this world and receive all God has planned for them? I join you today in praying for those who are lost. May they hear the call of Jesus to come to Him. May they understand the extent Christ went to for them to be redeemed and set free.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 11-12; Psalm 129

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. – Daniel 10:1-2

Daniel’s visions spoke of what would happen in the near future and also what would happen at the end of time. Daniel’s vision spoke of a long battle between the king of the north and the king of the south — how each would plot against each other and attempt to deceive each other. With Israel positioned between the two nations, the wrath of the battle will be poured out against the people of the holy covenant. The king of the north will reward those who forsake the covenant, flattering and winning them over.

But the people who KNOW their God will be strong and will resist him. – Daniel 11:32

THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD WILL BE STRONG AND ABLE TO RESIST THEIR OPPRESSOR!

Praise God! The God who draws us into a personal relationship with Him strengthens us through that relationship. It is our connection, our intimacy with God that gives us the strength to resist evil. And it is the experience of facing a battle with evil that changes us. It refines us, cleanses us and makes us pure.

And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. – Daniel 11:35

Praise God! He does not leave us alone during difficult times. He does not ask us to do something by ourselves, of our own strength. He is with us. His angels are defending us. He is strengthening us for that to which he has called us. Then he allows the difficult times to refine us, and to make us clean and pure before Him.

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:11

I am so thankful this morning that our God gives us strength. I have prayed a lot this year for strength and peace, and God has been faithful. This year would have been a lot more difficult if I had not felt that connection with God. I pray that God will use today’s verses to encourage you whether you are going through persecution, temptation, or difficulties.

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. – Psalm 68:35

God revealed to Daniel what was happening in the spiritual realms, unseen in the earthly realm. What a gift to see beyond our current reality. There is a spiritual battle taking place on behalf of God’s people, and God has commissioned His archangels to fight the battles. It is difficult for us to understand and comprehend the descriptive visions, just as it was difficult for Daniel. Theologians disagree on the meaning of these last three chapters of Daniel, but in this passage we can hear God saying – I will fight the battle; I will be victorious! (Daniel 10:13-14, 20-21).

At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. – Daniel 12:1-3

From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
Let all Israel repeat this:
From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
but they have never defeated me.
My back is covered with cuts,
as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
But the Lord is good;
he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. — Psalm 129:1-4

LIFE IS HARD BUT THE LORD IS GOOD! LET US PRAISE THE LORD TOGETHER!

The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. And they said,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were filled with wrath,
but now the time of your wrath has come.” – Revelation 11:16-18a

Today’s Reading: Daniel 10, Psalm 28

What God was asking of Daniel was huge! His visions left him feeling weak, as if all his strength had left him. Can you relate? Has your life journey or the life situations you are facing left you drained of all energy and strength? Are you feeling alone or unheard? May these words to Daniel wash over you and give you strength. May you hear the voice of God and picture the heavenly realms today. May you know with confidence that you are loved by God and that you are most definitely not alone. God is listening. May you feel the hand of God touch you and lift you up today.

My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” – Daniel 10:8b-12

Notice the progression of Daniel’s position. He faints and lays with his face to the ground. The hand of God touches him and lifts him up, but only to his hands and knees. Then, with a voice that roared like a vast multitude of people, the man of God told Daniel to stand up. Then Daniel, still trembling, stood up.

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO PRAY?

Have you ever been so drained from your life experiences, from the struggles and troubles surrounding you, that it was difficult for you to pray? You fall on your face before God and perhaps weep, but there are no words.

There are times when we need the strength of God simply to get on our knees and to be able to come before him and speak — to pray what we are feeling and present our requests to Him. He is just the kind of God to give us the strength we need to pray. Praise God! He also loves us enough to tell us when to stand, to confirm to us that He has heard our prayers.

While he was speaking to me, I looked down to the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” – Daniel 10:15-17

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO BREATHE?

It’s too much! It’s more than I can handle! I can’t breathe! Have you ever spoken these words or prayed something similar? There are times when what God is asking us to do or asking us to experience seems impossible, seems too big for us. At times the situation ahead is difficult, painful, and overwhelming. Listen to God’s words to Daniel:

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” – Daniel 10:19

JUST A WORD FROM GOD AND WE SUDDENLY FEEL STRONGER!

When God speaks, there is a new hope born in us that strengthens us for what is ahead. Praise God, He gives us the strength we need. When we do not have the words to describe what we need or what we are asking God to do for us, He understands our heart and knows our thoughts. That awareness alone can give us the strength we need to put one foot in front of the other, trusting Him to lead us into the unknown.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. – Romans 8:26-30

Lord, give us a word from you today. Hear our requests and strengthen us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, align our hearts with the heart of the God who knows us, who hears us, who sees us, and who lovingly says — You are precious to me. Be encouraged. Be strong. Amen.

The Lord gives his people strength. – Psalm 28:8a

Today’s Reading: Ezra 3:7 – 6:14, Psalm 147

With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid. – Ezra 3:11

When the foundation of the Temple was completed in their second year back in Jerusalem, the people stopped to celebrate. Many wept aloud. Others were shouting for joy. The sounds of the shouts and weeping could be heard far into the distance.

Praise the Lord!
How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension! – Psalm 147:1-5

As often happens when things are going well, opposition began to arise among those from other nations who were living in Jerusalem. They wrote a letter back to King Artaxerxes of Persia convincing him to stop the reconstruction of the Temple. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. The construction remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia (Ezra 4:23-24).

This was around the same time that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were encouraging God’s people to finish what they had started as God had commanded. The building started back up again, as did the opposition. God’s people had confidence that God was watching over them (5:5) and the local residents once again tattled back to the King, reporting that the work was progressing with great energy and success.

King Darius, however, found a scroll with the decree from King Cyrus that the Temple should be rebuilt on the site where the Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundation (6:3). His reply back to the opposition was to “stay away…do not disturb…let it be rebuilt…do not hinder…Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted” (Ezra 6:6-8).

King Darius also donated young bulls, rams, and male lambs to be used for burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine and olive oil. His desire was that the Israelites would present acceptable sacrifices to God and pray for King Darius and his sons.

Do you ever just get tickled at these kinds of stories? We still hear them today! What others do in hopes of harming or discouraging us, God makes into opportunities to bless us! What comes in the form of OPPOSITION becomes OPPORTUNITY. Today’s morning coffee was rich with encouragement for me.

• When we are unified with one purpose given by God, we have the strength to move forward even in the midst of fear and opposition.
• When God works through us to accomplish His will, it is time to celebrate and give Him praise!
• When faced with opposition, trust in God to make something wonderful come out of the struggles.

When opposition grows against us, let’s be encouraged to keep pressing forward. We need to continue to do what God has called us to do, even when commanded to do something different. We need to trust that something beautiful will come out of the struggle.

May this message in Ezra give us a new perspective. Let’s celebrate ALL that is going on in our lives and give Him praise, trusting that OPPOSITION will become OPPORTUNITY for God to do something wonderful in our hearts and in our lives. Let’s move forward in strength, praising God for all He has done and will continue to do in our lives.