Author: astherainandsnow

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.  On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.  And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” Ezekiel 17:22-24

The Lord through His prophet described His activity with Israel, expressing warning as well as hope of restoration. His interaction with His people was always purposeful, achieving His ends as well as showcasing His attributes. The aim in His messages was that all would recognize His divine majesty and omniscient power, and know He is the LORD.

Not only has God created all things, but He is intimately involved in their growth and livelihood. While the prophet’s message is analogous for His people Israel, the illustration of choosing a sprig from a perch known only to His Highness and planting it to bear fruit beckons all to robust living. The selecting, establishing, and filling with holy purpose are His way and gift. As His people grow noble and spiritually wise and productive, many will be drawn to rest in His shade of grace.

Where do we fit in to this picture? From where did He pluck us to be His child? Where has He planted us as His tree in a dark world forest- at home, work, or community- to stand for Him? How is He providing, through teaching or encouragement of friends or specific opportunity, for us to flourish and spread our branches of service and love?

How hearty have we grown? What nourishment do we daily take to remain strong in Him? What about our lives gives evidence to His life and causes others to know He is Lord, of us and of the world? The more we entrust to Him our every twig to take and strengthen and use as He wills, the wider will be His reach through us, and the more He’ll be magnified and adored.

“This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!” ~Maltbie Babcock (1901)

Lord, I entrust to You every twig of ability, desire, and energy to become a spreading branch of grace and love that magnifies Your name and saving power.

“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity…

O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished…

The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
You ascended on high,
    leading a host of captives in your train
    and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.

Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation. 
Our God is a God of salvation,
    and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death...

‘Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!..’
Summon your power, O God,
    the power, O God, by which you have worked for us…

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord
to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!” Psalm 68:1-9,17-20,26,28,32-35

God Almighty is often pictured as on the lookout from His heavenly abode and on the march for His people. Transcendent and limitless, He condescends to know and save and bear up His beloved children. Lord of Kings and kingdoms, individuals and nations, He is worthy of trust and praise.

And why does He seem such a peripheral part of our lives? Why do we relegate Him to times of most urgent need, or sadness? Why do we delight in all He has made yet neglect to thank Him for His many gracious, good gifts?

In the routine of days, we can unknowingly slide into mediocrity and sloth and spiritual sedentariness. We surreptitiously slip into softer rhythms from zeal, and quieter ease from boldness, and grow accustomed to weak, directionless living. The God of the skies, over all and seeing all, rides the heavens to our help, yet, we see Him not. (Deuteronomy 33:26)

When has God protected us, freed us, led us, provided for us? Have we not gazed up from our importances and beheld His majesty that daily interjects our lives? Blessed be He!

What strength of mind, body, or soul are we lacking? Where do we need His rain of inspiration, peace, hope? Will we look up to call on His might today?

Lord, may Your power and strength work in and through me, for Your purposes and glory.

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

When Jesus takes ahold of one of His children, everything changes. We are new creations with new desires, outlook, motivations, and practices. Certainly the life we now live by faith, while being folded into His light and fueled by His Spirit, is imperfect and constantly being sanctified. Yet, it throbs with new blood and moves to new rhythms and reorders the mindset to regard life from a spiritual point of view. (Psalm 36:9; Galatians 2:20)

Often we frustrate ourselves because we wallow in old ways and can’t seem to change. To live victoriously with a new mindset we must avail ourselves of all that is now true, and reckon ourselves dead to sin and no longer living for self and the world. Life here on out is a series of choices to put off the old self, put on the new, and see others and our purpose with Christ’s eyes. The bent to please self has been loosened and is now free to lean toward serving and sharing the gospel with others. The propensity to indulge the flesh is free to delight wholly in the Lord. (Romans 6:1-8,12-13)

How indicative are our passions of Christ’s redeeming work and power? How has a Spirit-planted mindset refocused our hearts and energized our mission? What steps can we take, with determination and vigor, to absorb and live out the mind of Christ? (1 Corinthians 2:16)

“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.” ~Frances Ridley Havergal (1874)

Lord, give me a heavenly mindset that translates to godly living that serves others and honors You.

“Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit..! Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, I am against you… My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. You shall know that I am the Lord God. 

“Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ Therefore thus says the Lord God: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Thus will I spend my wrath.., and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 13:3a,8-16

The righteous Lord, as the source of truth and only wise God, knows everything. His all-seeing eye penetrates, His mercy warns, and His holiness condemns the whitewash of lies and deception that are prolific among false prophets. Their misleading messages and profane practices that dishearten and destroy God’s people will be exposed and held to account. God’s truth alone sets free. (Ezekiel 13:16-23; John 8:31-32; 14:6); 1 Timothy 1:17)

Cultures are littered with whitewash: walls that divide in the name of self-righteousness, lies that keep us from seeing what is really true, structures that ostracize. People put up veneers to pretend to be what the are not, to ‘polish’ what’s actually broken and miserable, to hide inadequacies, failures, besetting sins they’re afraid to expose. But the Lord sees through them all, and works to break them down. His uprightness will not stand for such ongoing corruption.

How keenly do we recognize falsehood that’s so widely disseminated? Unless what we listen to and read is filtered through the inerrant word of God, we cannot be certain of its verity. As tempting as it is to trust another, it’s important to align beliefs with God’s truth directly.

What steps do we regularly take to be enlightened by the holy scriptures? How specifically and often do we pray for the Spirit’s guidance and understanding? Being assured of God’s truth enables effective witness in the world. (John 14:16-17; 16:13-14)

Lord, ground me in truth with tenacity and grace to break down walls of falsehood for Your kingdom’s sake and glory.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…  

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full…

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” John 15:1-5,8-11,16a

Jesus connects with the agrarian mind of His disciples in explaining the importance of their abiding in Him to produce fruit. Certain activity and submission is required for a healthy crop. Stay connected to Him, yield to His careful cutting, correcting, redirecting, and their ministry would bear an abundant eternal effect. But Jesus did not stop with the important goal of manifold influence and souls, but with the added resulting, lasting joy that is the result of flourishing. (Psalm 16:8-11)

Abiding in Christ brings broad abundance of godly thought, faith, and zeal. The cutting away of old practices and wayward affections yields rich Christian character. Drawing up regular nourishment from Christ’s living word gives strength to bear up under hardship and to serve. Clinging to the vine Jesus, and yielding to the heavenly Vinedresser’s pruning and shaping is the very process of sanctification. Being conformed to the image of Christ is the epitome of joy. (Colossians 3:5-17)

Does joy characterize our lives? Would those who make our acquaintance, and do those with whom we’re familiar, describe us as joyful? What do our countenance and conversation betray about our outlook on life, our attitudes toward personal circumstances and people with opposing opinions?

If joy is a byproduct of abiding in Christ, how can we better abide? What stubborn resistance to the Lord’s refining need we release? How will we take in more of His Spirit? Would we entrust ourselves to the Master’s loving hands in order to have greater influence on our culture, individuals, families for eternity? When Christ is the goal, fruit is borne and joy surprises and delights. (Galatians 5:22-23)

“I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.” ~Henry Francis Lyte

Lord, keep me deeply rooted and yielding as a fruitful branch, to Your glory and abounding joy.

“In the first year of his reign, in the first month, [King Hezekiah] opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priests… and said, ‘Hear me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves, and the house of the Lord,.. and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They have forsaken him and turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs…  My sons, do not be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister and… make offerings to him.’

“They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went… into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness… into the court… and carried it out to the brook Kidron… Then they went to Hezekiah and said, ‘We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils…’

“Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord… and the priests… [made] atonement for all Israel…

“Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar… The song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly worshiped… until the burnt offering was finished. [Then] the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped…

“Then Hezekiah said, ‘You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.’ And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings,.. all who were of a willing heart.” 2 Chronicles 29:3-6,11,15-16,18,20,24,27-29,31

King Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord by having the eyes of the Lord, and acting on what he saw to restore righteousness. God’s wrath had rained on the kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem because His people had been unfaithful and forsaken Him. Consecration and cleansing were needed, and this king stood tall to the task.

Just and true are the ways of the King of kingdoms. When we observe foundations of a nation crumble, the hiss and horror of sin’s stain that destroys a culture’s fabric and people, it is helpful to assess spiritual integrity. God’s eyes see forsaken worship and disregard for His law, and His holiness requires restoration, which begins with the heart. (Psalms 11:3; Revelation 15:3)

Like Hezekiah, we must begin at the place of corruption, and with God’s help, remove first the filth from our inner lives. What malice, hatred, resentment, prejudice, conceit do we harbor? What unholy affections are we justifying, or prurient interests entertaining? Do we worship God plus, or God alone? We must deal with the personal before we can make a difference in any corporal sense. Cleansing the private sanctuary frees us to offer acceptable worship and spread light in our communities, cities, nations, and world.

Search me, O God, cleanse me, inspire pure, pleasing worship, and through me spread the gospel wherever I am. (Psalm 51:2-4,6-10; 139:23-24)

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:51

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth…
It will be said on that day,
    ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord;..
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'” Isaiah 25:6-9

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end… To this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. A veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed… We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord, the Spirit… God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-16,18; 4:6

In the Scriptures, different veils were used for different purposes, from depicting the humble modesty and honor of a bride before her groom to the sacred guarding of the Holy of holies, a veil of sorrow to the veil of unbelief. The mystery depicted represents an even more exquisite mystery of the Lord’s purposes through history, shrouded, announced, and revealed. All that was intentionally and rightly hidden would be uncovered at the crucifixion for glorious good. (Exodus 26:31-35; Leviticus 16:2-3; Hebrews 10:19-20)

Though at Calvary the temple veil was rent, we still experience aspects of veiling in many areas of life. Those without Christ lie behind a veil of unbelief, unable to make their own way to God. Yet, because of Jesus, by grace they can believe, and we can pray for the veil to be lifted. A veil of confusion can make it hard to understand God’s ways or discern His paths. Yet, the Holy Spirit sent by the resurrected Christ leads us into all truth and illuminates God’s word for us. The veil of sorrow and sighing experienced here below is weighty, seeming at times too heavy to bear. Yet, the Lord promises all tears will one day vanish, being swallowed up in victory. (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 15:55-58; 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 21:4)

What veil presently darkens our way, understanding, or faith? Would we claim the Jesus’s power to remove the veil on healing, contentment, peace? Would we rejoice as His bride and behold Him with no shame, and full love, to take on His countenance? And how will we unveil Christ for others? (Numbers 6:24-26)

Lord, help me live in the freedom and joy for which You died.

“The king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent…’ 

“That same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, ‘Go, tell my servant David, “Would you build me a house to dwell in?  I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling…  And I have been with you wherever you went… And I will make for you a great name… [I] will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”’ In accordance with all these words, and… all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come…  Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears… And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.'” 2 Samuel 7:2,4-6,9,11-13,16-19a,22,28-29

David had great aspirations for the Lord, and the Lord had higher, more far-reaching ones for David. Young in royal duties and eager in faith, David wanted to construct a house for worship of the Lord. But God’s plans imparted a different vision of far greater and eternal importance. David imagined a physical house when the Lord promised eternal progeny- first a son who would build the temple, then a line that would carry the Christ into the world. (Matthew 1:6-16)

When we love the Lord, we can make great plans for Him borne of enthusiasm to express gratitude or to exalt His name. Knowing our heart intent, He is honored by these desires. But often our impulses, however good, are just that- impulses birthed in our minds without inquiring of Him. God’s higher ways are always best, superseding our ambitions as divine over the flesh, everlasting over temporary. (1 Kings 8:18-19; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Matthew 17:1-5)

Where has the Lord aborted or changed direction on what we thought were lofty ideas? Is our drive greater to accomplish what we want, or to discern and fulfill what He wants? How practiced are we in seeking God’s will before we prepare schedules and set plans in motion? How can we better align ourselves with His highest good?

Lord, enfold my desire to build into Your eternal, marvelous plans, for Your glory.

“Give ear to my prayer, O God,
    and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
Attend to me, and answer me;
    I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
because of the noise of the enemy,
    because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they drop trouble upon me,
    and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
Fear and trembling come upon me,
    and horror overwhelms me.
And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest…
I would hurry to find a shelter
    from the raging wind and tempest…’

But I call to God,
    and the Lord will save me.
Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
He redeems my soul in safety
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
God will give ear and humble them,
    he who is enthroned from of old.

Cast your burden on the Lord,
    and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved…
But I will trust in you.” Psalm 55:1-6,8,12-14,16-19a,22,23c

David’s troubles were great and unrelenting. Violence, betrayal of friends, numberless agonies of soul pressed hard until a song of lament issued forth. If only he could escape the constant friction, fly far from the pain… So he poured out his heart to the only One who could hear and understand and hold his tears. (Psalm 55:9-15)

It is natural, in the midst of seemingly endless pain and strife, to wonder how we can live with joy or hope, above the fray. We want to flee, to remove ourselves from the weight of pressure, taunts, and terrors that constantly threaten to undo us. Our soul’s answer isn’t in escape, or the eradication of trials, but in where we fix our trust. The only balm is on the wings of Christ who bears us up. (Psalm 56:3-4; Isaiah 40:28-31; Romans 8:31-34)

What legitimate causes have we to moan in complaint today? Are we suffering spiritual oppression at work or within our families or friend groups? Is there a physical pain or condition that gnaws with fear about the future? Have we been deceived, betrayed, hurt by someone close to us? Would we fly to Jesus? Would we take our burdens to Him and rest on His everlasting arms? Our God is for us and will sustain us to the end! (Deuteronomy 33:27)

“You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?..

I will render thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.” Psalm 56:8-13

Lord, may I constantly fly to You so I pulse with Your life and proclaim Your graces and glory.

“Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:3-9

The Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, and poured themselves into settling in, planting their land and building their personal homes. But much of their effort was fruitless. The Lord called them to consider their ways, and the condition of His ruined house, and rebuild for Him. Though they were stirred in Spirit, rebuilding the temple to its former glory became overwhelming. The prophet’s word to them was to set aside focusing on themselves, trusting their own strength, fainting in the work because it seemed impossible, languishing in the past and memories of former glory and what-ifs, and immerse themselves presently in the Lord. This was their job, and His work. He was their sufficiency and would be their success. If they kept on for Him they would see Him glorified. (Haggai 1:2-14)

The size and difficulty of any task can render it challenging, frustrating, and sometimes too much to handle. Reviving or remaking something that was lost can drain us of enthusiasm when vision is swallowed by what we think was the greater grandeur of what has passed. Misplaced priorities and misdirected effort can leave us feeling fruitless, that all our work is a waste of time.

Yet, when the Lord issues any call, He has already prepared for its doing and completing. He presents us with opportunity to take on fresh vitality, a vision for His plan, and to rely on His abiding, enabling, inspiring Spirit in the process. He empowers us by that Spirit to imagination, energy, and zeal that bring Him glory. (Isaiah 43:19; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Where am I stuck in the past, in resisting change that naturally occurs, or in preference over a new but necessary service or task God has asked me to do? Where am I flagging in the Lord’s kingdom work due to tired vision, apathy, or fear of the unknown? How willing am I to step in and press on, even when I cannot see results or may never enjoy the finished product? No matter my feelings of resistance or dismay, would I set them aside to trust God’s strength tand bring Him the glory He deserves? (Philippians 3:13-14; Revelation 3:2)

My Lord and Master, keep me awake and strong to attend with rigor and to complete the works You have for me.