Day 145: Ezra :14 - Neh 3:31

The first thing that hit me regarding the story of Nehemiah is the fact that he worked in conjunction with Ezra in an effort to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. It's oftentimes easy to think of the restoration as something that Ezra did or something that Nehemiah did, but without both of them doing their part at the same time, the city would've never been rebuilt. We must always remember that even though God has called us to something huge, we may not always be the only one called to that specific thing. I've known people before in the ministry who have chosen to neglect any new relationships or connections with other people because they already know what they're called to do and all they need is God and His provision. The fact is,  one of the things that God oftentimes provides for us to complete His work is relationships with other men and women of God. So instead of thinking that all you need is God and everyone else should just leave you alone, keep your eyes open because you never know when God may send someone your way who will be the next big step in accomplishing God's will for your life.

- Father, help me not to take relationships with other people for granted. You didn't create any of us to be an island completely cut off from other people. You created us to be social creatures in need of other people to help keep us motivated and excited and to simply help us in the physical labor of doing Your work. Thank You for the relationships that I have and help me to see their full potential so that we can accomplish what You have placed in our hearts. -

Day 144: Ezra 7:1 - 10:13

It's interesting to see how quickly things looked like they were going south with the Israelites once they had been allowed to go back to their homeland. After only a few chapters, the Israelites were already going around marrying foreign wives and giving their daughters to foreign husbands. Fortunately, instead of just turning a deaf ear to the problem and letting people do whatever they wanted, Ezra stood up and did the two most important things one can do in this sort of situation - he asked God to forgive them, and then he made it right. I know that this wasn't by any means the end of all of Israel's problems or troubles, but I do believe that because Ezra was obedient and faithful in recognizing the problem, he singlehandedly saved Israel from repeating another devastating collapse. It's always easier to just ignore or pretend not to notice when people in ministry with us or when we ourselves begin to fall back into the same sin that God had already delivered us, but if we will just stand firm and make a strong decision not to allow it and turn a complete 180, God will honor that and we will be able to avoid all of the pain and frustration that could have been.

- Lord, help me to deal with sinful issues in my life the second I see them and not just sit around and hope that maybe they'll go away or magically get better. I don't want to take the easy way of side-stepping the issues because I know that in the end, the "easy" way is usually the way that causes the most  pain. -

Day 143: Ezra 2:70 - 6:22

It's so interesting to read about King Cyrus and King Darius and the roles they played in reestablishing God's people. At first glance, one would assume that these two kings would have a negative impact on the Children of Israel and them getting back to the land that God promised them, but at least in this part of history, God was able to use these two men to get His people back to their homeland with arms full of blessings so they could rebuild the life that God had promised them. We need to always remember that even though there may be people in our lives currently who would appear to play a role opposite what God wants for our lives, if we will  just be faithful and trust in God, He can use even the most unlikely people and/or circumstances to see to it that His will is accomplished. As long as our faith is in Him, we no longer have to concern ourselves with everything else around us.

- Lord, help me to remember that You're will is all that matters and it's not my job to decided how it will be carried out or who will help me carry it out. Give me the strength to accept help from even the most unlikely sources so that I can do what is right and accomplish what You've put in my heart to accomplish. -

Day 142: 2 Chr 36:23 - Ezra 2:69

You know, going through and reading the Bible is alot like the Christian walk itself. I have to be honest, there have been a few spots so far going through the Bible that things were starting to get pretty rough and there were a couple of times where in my flesh, I really just wanted to stop reading the Bible and find something a little easier to do - like play through a video game or start reading some sort of adventure novel. Just like it has been reading through the Old Testament so far, I've come across times throughout my walk with the Lord where things were starting to get a little tough and dark and, to be honest, I've had a couple of times when I thought about just dropping out and being a nominal Christian like so many others out there today. You know, some sort of "user-friendly" Christianity where I could follow the rules I liked and the ones that made me appear to be much more advanced and mature than the people around me, but I would conveniently ignore the parts where God commands us to live every part of our lives with integrity regardless of who is watching or the parts about giving ourselves wholly to the Father and not leaving any part for the world or for the devil. As easy as it would be for me to just drop out and leave things as they are right now, I know that in doing that, I would never get to the part in my life where God takes me from all of the nonsense and frustration that comes from living a carnal life and drops me right back into the middle of His will. After what seemed like and eternity of reading about the Children of Israel messing up and missing the mark and causing trouble, I'm finally seeing the redemptive power that has been promised all throughout the passages I've read so far. And as I read through the book of Ezra, I can't help but believe that, just as the Children of Israel are heading back to the place that God has called them, God is completing the final stages of preparing me for the work that I know He has called me to. Not work that revolves around me making as much money as I can and trying my hardest to advance my career, but work that involves me reaching as many people as I can and trying my hardest to advance the Kingdom of God. I am finally coming out of captivity and this is the hour that I will see the redemption that God has promised me for years! I choose to mark this day in my mind because this is the darkest things will ever be and the lowest that my life will ever get!

- Lord, I choose to stand firm and not lean to the right or to the left. I can finally see the end of this chapter in my life and I will continue to look forward towards the blessing and the call that You've placed on my life. Help me to not forget what I've learned in the valley so that I will be able to take it and help others get to the place where You have called them to be! -

Day 141: 2 Chr 33:25 - 36:22

There is alot to take in in this passage, but I want to focus on one phrase that really hit me. When Josiah decided to clean up the temple, some of the men working found the Book of Moses. Whenever they brought it to Josiah and read it to him, the Bible says that he ripped his robes into pieces in dismay. It's sad to think how many people there are in this world and how many of them desperately need to hear the Bible. Sadly, though, I can't help but wonder how many of them would really be upset enough to tear their robes and go into mourning. I've seen plenty of people hear the Word and perhaps be a little bummed out about it. I've seen people hear the Bible and just laugh and shrug it off as if it were some sort of silly joke. I've seen people get so angry that all they want to do now is prove that the Bible is wrong and that everything they're doing is right. Unfortunately, this is one subject that we have very little control over. I can get on my knees and repent for myself and change my own life, but I can't change the hearts of all of those people not yet ready to accept God's Word. My point is, all we can do for those people is pray. Pray that they don't end up like the nation of Judah - making somewhat of a decision to change when it's already too late. Please join with me in prayer for those people so that they may accept God's Word and turn their lives around so they can take part in the blessings that God has in store for them. 

- Lord, right now I pray for those whose hearts have turned against You. I understand that some may only have one more chance to hear Your Word, and I pray that You being to soften their hearts and bring things and influences into their lives to help them realize that Your way is the only way to go. Bring them confirmation and peace when they do choose You over their pagan gods so that they will know that they have now chosen the One True God. -

Day 140: 2 Chr 30:14 - 33:24

You know, I guess maybe Im just an idealist because I love reading the stories about the kings who loved God and worshiped God and didn't have to deal with the pain and frustration that the others dealt with. I love this story of Hezekiah, and I especially love the part towards the middle about the Assyrian king Sennacherib coming to take over Judah. It seems like in most of these stories of the kings of Judah, there's some sort of paradox where bad things are happening to good people for a good reason or good things are happening to bad people for a bad reason, but in this story, it's very simple and easy to understand what exactly was happening. Hezekiah and the people of Judah were being righteous and faithful to God, Assyria showed to up to insult God and destroy the nation, Judah prayed and asked God for help, and God completely destroyed the Assyrian army! You know, it really doesn't get any more cut-and-dry than that! As long as we're faithfully serving the Lord our God, when the devil sends our enemies to attack, all we have to do is faithfully ask and believe and God will pick us up and take care of our enemies for us!

- Father, thank You for being such a faithful God. It's easy sometimes to be intimidated or think that You're too busy to take care of my problems, but help me to remember that You love me and as long as I will humble myself and look towards You, there's nothing in this world that You would rather do than deliver me! -

Day 139: 2 Chr 27:1 - 30:13

I just love the way that these passages ended up together because we can see such a huge contrast between Ahaz and Hezekiah. I think passages like this one regarding the life of Hezekiah are very important to read because they remind us that redemption is never too far away. And no matter how dark things have become or how bad things are, if we will be like Hezekiah and turn from the wickedness of the past and rebuild everything in honor of God, God will offer His forgiveness. It's also very important to note that Hezekiah didn't just take the old junk lying around and try to somehow make that honor God, He rebuilt and cleaned out everything making sure that God wasn't getting some second-hand afterthought of a worship service, but that God was being honored the best possible way that the nation of Judah could afford.

- Lord, help those who have turned away from You remember that redemption isn't too far away from them. All they have to do is make a complete 180, change their hearts and minds and make a decision to honor You and You will accept their prayers and give them the redemption that they so desperately need. -