Prayer Call: You Can Build Again

Good Morning, BFB!

This is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today’s scripture focus: “Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.” -‭‭Ezra‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As Ezra 5 begins, about 16-20 years have passed since the rebuilding of the temple stopped, and they are now starting to build again. We shouldn't be hard on Zerubabel or Jeshua because there are seasons in life when we've stopped building. It may because of the fear or opposition that we have faced or encountered. The people of Judah and Jerusalem understood that feeling because that's where they were. When they begin building again, this time something begins to shift. God sends prophets to remind them of the promises that He made to them. To reignite the passion to pursue the purpose that God has called them to. Just like the people of Judah and Jersualem, we can build again. These verses show us that there are some things we have to have in order to build again.
 
First we have to have divine direction. The work didn't restart because they felt like it, but because God spoke to them. With everything around them still in rubble and ruins, God spoke and told them to get up and go. Sometimes that is what we need when we are in a seaon of needing to restart again. We need divine direction to motivate us to start again. Divine direction for us can come from studying His word, a conversation with someone. It can even come from a whisper or a prayer. God is still speaking and when He does speak, His voice should be the voice that breaks through the fear, the shame, and the stagnation. We need to lean in and listen to God. He hasn't gone silent, He's still guiding us.
 
You also have to have determined devotion. Once they heard the word, they didn't just reflect on it, they responded to it. They picked up and got back to work. It's not always going to be easy; it's going to require some faith, some grit. And sometimes doing the work is doing the work even when things don't look favorable. Even when it doesn't look favorable what matters most is movement. The first step for us may be making a phone call, relooking or rewriting the vision, going on a fast, starting back on the prayer call. Maybe it's offering an apology or accepting forgiveness. You don't have to work for perfect conditions, the time to rebuild is right now.
 
Third, you need to have dependable support. God didn't just give them a word, God gave them some people. The prophets didn't just give them a message and move on. They stayed. They encouraged. They stood by those that were rebuilding. We were never meant to rebuild our lives alone. If we are open to it, God will place people around us to encourage us, pour into us, push us to keep going when we can't find the strength to keep going on our own. Who has God placed in your corner? Who is in your corner, lifting your arms up when you're too tired to lift them on your own? Who's arms are you lifting up when they are too tired to go on?

As we go through the week, ask yourself - when did you stop building? There was a moment in life when you stopped going forward with the purpose God gave you. But Ezra 5 reminds us that delay doesn't mean denial. God doesn't discard the things that are unfinished. God redeems the unfinished work. He sends His divine direction. He sends dependable people to support you. With God's divine direction, your determined devotion, and dependable support - just like the people of Judah and Jerusalem, you too can start building again.  

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