Read: Zechariah 1
“12 Then the Angel of the Lord said, O Lord of hosts, how long will You not have mercy and lovingkindness for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignation these seventy years? 13 And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me with gracious and comforting words.” Zechariah 1:12-13
Examine:
The intercession of the Angel of the LORD in this verse is unusual, for this divine Messenger is usually seen representing God to people rather than functioning in an intercessory role representing people to God.
Apply:
As I read this verse there are a couple of things that really jump out at me. I have a tendency to forget that God disciplines me. He is not mean and He is not a bully, but as a loving perfect Father He disciplines me when I am consistently wrong with my choices. When the pain of circumstances arise, I have to know that regardless of who or what is bringing them the will of my Father is to use it for my good. He is sovereign over my life and as long as I stay submitted to Him He will use the pain to strengthen me.
I am also reminded that I am called to act on behalf of the LORD, not defend myself. I hear those words echoing deep in my heart this morning. I must learn to trust God to take care of the things affecting me personally. He has given angels charge over me. He has given Jesus to advocate for me. I have to rest and trust in this truth. Whenever I take charge of defending myself I prolong the discipline in my life and lose the blessing that comes from God Himself restoring what has been lost.
Pray:
I really do not trust You. I could spend some time weighing my words more carefully and could repackage that in a statement that sounds way less blunt but the truth would become hidden. I do not trust You. I am afraid that if I do not take care of myself people will consume me and You will do nothing to stop them.
I also do not care about Your Kingdom as much as I care about mine. My anger burns far more often over people offending me than it does them resisting You. My heart is broken over my own pain far more often than it is broken over the pain You feel. You have asked that I pour out my life to see Your Kingdom come to earth. You have asked that I storm the strongholds of this earth to see them torn down for You. I cannot do that as long as I am focused on advancing my petty little kingdom on earth.
I pray today that my trust in You be firm and that my deepest rest and peace would be in knowing that You are my defender and provider. I also ask that my deepest longing and only passion be seeing Your kingdom come.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
What Do You Desire of Me?
Read: Zechariah 1
“9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel who talked with me said, I will show you what these are.” Zechariah 1:9
Examine:
God is a God of new beginnings and fresh works. There are times and places when every believer is faced with something they do not understand. Zechariah had the courage to walk with angels, but he also had the humility to ask about what he did not understand.
Apply:
All questions are good, but not all are holy. All questions addressed to God will receive a response but not all responses are good. God is holy and His character demands my respect. There are a couple of things on my heart about Zechariah’s question that I feel I need to learn. The Spirit, not his emotions, led him to this place. Emotional questions are always loaded questions. When I ask them, I am really not looking for information; I am making an accusation. Questions toward God that carry this tone anger Him. Questions that are led by the Spirit will always confront something in my character that needs changing by affirming something in God’s character I need to accept as truth. Zechariah was not asking for information or for novelty. He was on mission and he knew it. God was revealing something to him that would have to be carried to the world. Many times my questions start and end with my life. I want to know, but I do not want to share the knowledge I gain. I want peace, but I do not want to be used to bring the message of peace to others.
Pray:
Father, there is something deep stirring inside of me. I have felt it for some time now but I am afraid to ask You about it. Afraid is really not a good word. It is more like I dread this stirring because I know that it means my life will have to change and I will have to trade my dreams for Your dreams. It means I will have to take the control I falsely perceive to have over my life and give it to You. It means I will once again have to find another level of surrender to Your will for my life. I have tried to ignore this stirring and while I have not addressed it with You I have felt my worship of You begin to fade, my prayers to You start to fall flat, and my peace with You begin to slip.
I confess to You that I have been trying to run from Your movement in my heart and I clearly recognize that as being disobedient and sinful. I repent of my rebellion and say to You, my Lord, what are these things in my heart and what do You desire of me?
“9 Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel who talked with me said, I will show you what these are.” Zechariah 1:9
Examine:
God is a God of new beginnings and fresh works. There are times and places when every believer is faced with something they do not understand. Zechariah had the courage to walk with angels, but he also had the humility to ask about what he did not understand.
Apply:
All questions are good, but not all are holy. All questions addressed to God will receive a response but not all responses are good. God is holy and His character demands my respect. There are a couple of things on my heart about Zechariah’s question that I feel I need to learn. The Spirit, not his emotions, led him to this place. Emotional questions are always loaded questions. When I ask them, I am really not looking for information; I am making an accusation. Questions toward God that carry this tone anger Him. Questions that are led by the Spirit will always confront something in my character that needs changing by affirming something in God’s character I need to accept as truth. Zechariah was not asking for information or for novelty. He was on mission and he knew it. God was revealing something to him that would have to be carried to the world. Many times my questions start and end with my life. I want to know, but I do not want to share the knowledge I gain. I want peace, but I do not want to be used to bring the message of peace to others.
Pray:
Father, there is something deep stirring inside of me. I have felt it for some time now but I am afraid to ask You about it. Afraid is really not a good word. It is more like I dread this stirring because I know that it means my life will have to change and I will have to trade my dreams for Your dreams. It means I will have to take the control I falsely perceive to have over my life and give it to You. It means I will once again have to find another level of surrender to Your will for my life. I have tried to ignore this stirring and while I have not addressed it with You I have felt my worship of You begin to fade, my prayers to You start to fall flat, and my peace with You begin to slip.
I confess to You that I have been trying to run from Your movement in my heart and I clearly recognize that as being disobedient and sinful. I repent of my rebellion and say to You, my Lord, what are these things in my heart and what do You desire of me?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)