What Does The Lord Say?

It’s important to get the Lord’s perspective on situations facing your life. Some scenarios seem dire, unchangeable and hopeless, but what does the Lord say? Remember in Ezra 4? “the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building” (Ez 4:4). The adversaries of God also used deception to discourage the people from doing the Lord's work. When that didn’t work, they stepped it up a notch and “hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia” (Ez 4:5). The adversaries got counsellors to devise, plot and scheme how they could thwart the plan of God, they even went as far as sending letters to the king, so that high-level orders could be issued to stop the building of the temple.

The work did stop on the temple, but only for a time. Ultimately God’s purpose was fulfilled and the temple was rebuilt. How did this happen? Through the Lord’s prophetic voice. In Ezra Chapter 5 vs 1 we see that Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews, encouraging them to start rebuilding. The detailed accounts of these prophetic words are seen in the books of Haggai and Zechariah. It is from this prophetic utterance that the work of the Lord continued “Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them” (Ez 5:2). It is because of God's word in that situation, that people were stirred and began to work “The elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo" (Ez 6:14).

How important it is for us to hear God’s voice in the midst of situations! What seemed like only frustrations and an undone work, the Lord was able to shift the spirits of men from only seeing their current circumstances to what He wanted accomplished. My encouragement is to always seek the Lord’s perspective, get His opinion on what is in front of you. Never become crippled by hopelessness, especially if it is a work that God has called you to. Hear His voice and get His opinion, knowing that He is well able to completely change what appears undone.

Prayer

Lord, I want Your opinion on what is happening. Let me not lean on my own understanding, let me not become hopeless and filled with despair based on my present circumstances, because Your voice can completely change what I see. I want to hear what You say, because You have the final say. I listen attentively and will be obedient to Your words when You speak in Jesus name. Amen.