Hello Sweet Friends,
Today’s Reading … Zechariah 1-14 and Esther 1-10
The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. Both prophesied to the faithful remnant who were working to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.
When there is a time of heightened emotion, whether crisis or celebration, people gather with energy and intense desire to embrace or help as needed. As time goes by, this energy decreases, people lose interest and the desire to selflessly help in the matters at hand. As the remnant works to rebuild the Promised Land, they face obstacles, persecution and discouragement. There are times that they want to quit, to give up. Zechariah offers hope by continually reminding God’s people of His love and care for them. He reassures the Israelites that God is always present and available to strengthen and to help. Unlike mere humans, God does not lose interest and His desire to selflessly help never wanes. What need has God called you to meet? Have you lost your interest, your energy to serve in His calling on your life? He is here, waiting to pour the light of His love over you and reinvigorate your passion to do His work. Don’t quit too quickly. Pause and ask God to re-light the fire in your soul. He will be faithful to answer your prayer.
Esther…what a rockstar!! (Side note: I keep picturing her as Megan Markel walking into the cathedral unescorted, head held high, purpose in sight.) Esther had a calling on her life, much like we saw in the lives of Joseph, Moses and David. She had a perspective that could only be given by God and a courage that was clearly from the Holy Spirit. Esther did not chose this mission, the mission to save the lives of the Jewish people in exile. Yet, when she received the call from God and accepted it in obedience, she carried it out with strength and conviction.
There have been times in my life that I have felt a clear leading from the Lord that I am supposed to take on a task or a work for Him. The tricky part comes when it inevitably gets a little bigger, a little harder or a little bit scarier than I had anticipated. Unexpected adversity, spiritual warfare and my own insecurities begin to cloud my vision from what the Lord is calling me to do. More importantly, they begin to cloud my vision from the eternal truths of who God is and what He is able to do. Esther had these thoughts and fears as well. The defining moment is in how we deal with these moments of weakness. Esther went to the Lord. That is our answer, that is our strength. Esther recognized that it was the Lord’s work and He would be faithful to complete it, in His time and in His way. The next step is to realize that He will cover His servants in His grace and provision throughout the process. In the midst of working for Him, He will provide. When we call out to Him, He will deliver peace, courage and strength for the task at hand. Sometimes I think that we trust God for the outcome and miss the blessings of His presence in the process.
Both of the books that we are reading today remind us that if God is calling us, He will equip us. We don’t have to, and actually are unable to, complete His work in our own strength. One of the many joys of serving our good and gracious God is the waterfall of blessings that He bestows on us all along the way. His love never ceases.
“Not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).
Working in His Spirit means resting in His Spirit. Enjoy His blessings as you work today!
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”(Isaiah 55:11).
