Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
“Then GOD stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD.” ~ Ezra 1:5
GOD moved the hearts of the leaders, family heads, priests, and Levites and gave them a great desire to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Major changes in our lives begin on the inside as GOD works on our attitudes, beliefs, and desires. These inner changes lead to faithful actions. After forty-eight years of captivity, the arrogant Jewish nation had been humbled. When the people’s attitudes and desires changed, GOD ended their punishment and gave them another opportunity to go home and try again. Paul reminds us that “GOD is working in you, giving you the desire to obey HIM and the power to do what pleases HIM.” Philippians 2:13 – GOD has not left us alone in our struggles to do HIS will. HE wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. GOD helps us desire to obey HIM and then gives us the power to do what HE wants. The secret to a changed life is to submit to GOD’s control and let HIM work to bring those changes about. When GOD’s spirit points out needed changes in our lives, we must listen to HIM and be patient as HE brings those changes to light – “Waging war for a long time to accomplish this.” – Joshua 11:18 – The conquest of much of the land of Canaan seems to have happened quickly, but in all actuality it took seven years. We often expect quick changes in our lives and quick victories over sin. But our journey with GOD is anything but quick. It is a lifelong progress and the changes and victories may take time. It is easy to grow impatient with GOD and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. When we are close to a situation, it is difficult to see the progress that is actually being made. But when we look back, we can see that GOD never stopped working.
“But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3 – Keeping Christ first in our lives can be very difficult when we have so many distractions threatening to sidetrack us and our faith. Just as Eve lost her focus by listening to the serpent, we too, can lose our focus by letting our lives become overcrowded and confused. When this happens we should seek solitude as Jesus did. –“Afterward He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. Night fell while He was there alone.” – Matthew 14:23 – Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus. He made room in His busy schedule to be alone with His heavenly Father. Spending time with GOD in prayer nurtures a vital relationship with HIM and equips us to meet life’s challenges and struggles. When we develop the discipline of clearing our schedules and spending time alone with GOD, it helps us grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ. – “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” – Luke 5:16 – So many things can clamor for our attention in our daily lives: our families, our jobs, community service, and even church work and most of the time we run ourselves ragged trying to attend to them all. However, like Jesus, we should take time to withdraw to a quiet “deserted” place to pray and be alone with our heavenly Father. Strength comes from GOD, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with HIM. Can you think of ways to minimize the distractions in your life that threaten your devotion to and alone time with GOD?
LORD, what are the things that keep us from YOU? Help us as we seek the answer to this question that so burdens our hearts. Lead us away Father, to a quiet place where we can be alone with YOU and draw on YOUR power and strength. We know that our strength comes from YOU, Father GOD, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with YOU. Give us the discipline we need to clear our schedules so that we will spend more time alone with YOU because we know LORD, that this will help us grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ.
Photo: Eagle Rock (Grand Canyon)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
