Scripture:

Nehemiah 4:10,13-14

10 Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”

13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Nehemiah, whose name means (Yahweh comforts) was born into captivity in Babylon he was a guy who was able to accomplish something that no one else who tried in 70 years, including the prophet Ezra.   In chapter one we see something significant that I want to point out, when he heard of the condition of his people and the condition of the wall, he didn't just take in information, it says that he broke down and wept bitterly and prayed, prayed for God to make him part of the solution, to help his people, those who had lost hope.    

Today in our portion we see how our situation, the heaviness of what they were facing, had brought so much discouragement.  Isn't that the plan of the enemy for us to lose sight of the presence of God in our situation, our struggle, and for us to focus on the "rubble," the difficulty.  You see in this book how the meaning of Nehemiah's name is fitting, because he trusted in the Lord his God, and it was no different in this situation. When he saw the laborers' discouragement, those who were in the battle, their strength waning, he rallied them together and "Reminds them of the mighty hand of God who was with them."

Today our God-Shot is that when we are under attack, when the enemy tries to get us to focus on the rubble of our difficulty, our situation, our struggle, that we would regroup, put our foot down, and remind the enemy of the mighty hand of our God, who can give us the strength to "FINISH," the ability to "ACCOMPLISH," and the protection we need.   Listen to His words:

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."

The fact is: God's mighty hand was with them in such a powerful way that they were able to do in 52 days what no one could in 70 years.   So remember that what God has purposed in your life no one could stop.

Lord, I thank you that your plans are always good and they will be accomplished; the enemy will try to discourage, derail, and disrupt the plan, but you give strength and power, ability, wisdom, and understanding to do it; let our hearts not lose sight of this truth; set us to do what you have laid before us in the name of Jesus, amen! 

Scripture:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV)

"At the Right Time"

"If you remain silent... relief will arise from another place": 

Although the name "God" is never explicitly mentioned in the entire Book of Esther, this statement shows that God is Faithful, and Mordecai believes God's plans cannot be changed by human weakness or inaction. If Esther chooses comfort or fear over duty, God will use someone or something else to rescue His people.

He will come at the "Right Time."  This seems to be a theme this week. God spoke this very word to me this week through our portion in Zachariah 10:1: that God is aware of our great need and at the right time, in the perfect time- not too late, not too soon- He will meet us at our need.

"Such a time as this" 

This speaks of the "Right Season (time)."  Mordecai was telling Esther, " Here is your day, your hour, your opportunity to be used by God, to be part of His great plan, it is now, it is the right time; let that sink in.

Today our God-Shot is more of a challenge.   That today is your hour, your time, your season to begin to be available, to step into God's plans for your life, to ask God to use you, maybe this is your "such a time" moment that God has something great for you to accomplish that you have been uniquely equipped and gifted for, that through you His great power might be made known, His name be glorified.   

Today, ask God for your God-Moment, that you would be used by Him today, and then watch and see His plan unfold.   I promise that you will be blown away by how this prayer can change your life. 

At the Right Time!

Father, may we always be obedient to your prompting, to the leading of the Holy Spirit, be it a word of encouragement to someone you have sent us to, be it helping someone in need, use us for your glorious plan, may our lives bring you glory in the name of Jesus', amen!

Scripture:
Zechariah 10:1
Ask the Lord for rain
In the time of the latter rain.
The Lord will make flashing clouds;
He will give them showers of rain,
Grass in the field for everyone.

The Deep Places
Something you should get from every word, every sentence, and every paragraph in the Word of God is that it points you back to a loving Father who desires that your relationship with Him be made right, so that you know you can depend on Him, trust Him, and invest your life in Him.

But here in verse 1 of chapter 10, so much is packed into this tiny verse. First, Zechariah reminds us that it is the Lord who provides what we need: "He will give them showers of rain." This is a reminder that God has what I need, and He can supply it.

So our first takeaway is that I should "Ask the Lord." My prayer life should grow stronger, because God has the power to deliver the things I need. So I need to ASK.

The second is this: "latter rain." There are two things here. First, this is a reference to rain that penetrates the deep places of the soil. Second, it comes in perfect season, referring to springtime. God sends what you need, and listen: He sends it at the RIGHT TIME!

Today our God-Shot is that God KNOWS and HAS what you and I need, and He is able to PROVIDE it. Not only that, but what He brings will SATISFY the NEED. See, God is able to reach the deep places of your life, the needs that go beyond the surface, which only the latter rain could penetrate and only the right season could bring to fruit.

Q: What are you asking of the Lord?
Q: What deep place in your life do you need the Lord to reach into?
Q: Are you trusting His provision in your life?

Father, I thank You that You can reach into the deep places of our lives, reaching the depths of our needs like no other. You are Jireh. You are a loving Father who cares for His children, who meets their needs IN SEASON, who reaches into the deepest of our needs, and who touches our very souls. Thank You for Your presence in our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Scripture:

Zechariah 8:12

‘For the seed shall be prosperous,
The vine shall give its fruit,
The ground shall give her increase,
And the heavens shall give their dew—
I will cause the remnant of this people
To possess all these.

The Word of God teaches us that while we labor, it is the Lord who brings the increase. We often miss that everything we have and everything we can do comes from the Lord. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" (Psalm 24:1). All that we have and all that we are comes from God. He gives us strength to do the work; He makes what we do fruitful and brings increase; He gives us the talents we need to accomplish the work set before us. This is why giving back to Him is a heart thing, not a church thing.  

So today, our God-Shot is to remember that when I accomplish anything, it is not "look what I did," or "look at the work of my hands,' but rather "look what God did in me," "look what God did through me."   If we see Him as our Jireh (provider), that would shift our gratitude and our dependence upon the one who brings increase.  

Q:  What great things have you accomplished that you could not have done without the Lord?  And what are you grateful for today?

What if you have been BLESSED to be a BLESSING!

Lord, thank you for all that you have provided, all the blessings, all the increase; thank you for what you have done in and through me. I pray that you would continue to cause what I put my hands to prosper and bring you glory. I pray that you would cause our area of influence to increase and the reach of our hands to do your good work to be blessed, in Jesus' name, amen

Scripture:

Zechariah 3:3-5

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
4 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

"By His Grace"

If you have been in church for any time, you may have heard it said, "Our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). That is because our goodness can't get us into heaven; we cannot work our way in; it is the fallen nature of man that sets us back.   It is only in Christ that we are made right with God, and when we are saved, we put on Christ, His righteousness.   This picture here in Zechariah of the High Priest Joshua is a picture of what Christ does for us, takes our filthy rags, our sin and shame, and takes it away... Breathe that in for a moment; let that hit you differently today.   He replaces our sin with His righteousness; the Angel takes his filthy rags and gives him "rich" robes, then places a clean turban. This is a picture of restored dignity and honor; the Lord restores his honor, his place in the Kingdom.   This vision is a foreshadowing of what Christ has done for you and me; this should cause your heart to pump this morning.

Today our God-Shot is to remember that apart from Christ we are not good enough, like filthy rags, that we could never by good works make our way to heaven.   Today is a reminder of our great need for Christ and His presence, His Holy Spirit in our lives to lead us into all righteousness.   

Your past has lost its power because Christ has removed it like filthy rags and given you a new future... Let that simmer...

Lord, I thank you that because of you, I can face tomorrow, that I have a future and a hope, that my good could never have taken me in, but yours can, that you have exchanged my past and my shame for your righteousness; and because of it my filthy rags have been exchanged for garments of white, robes rich, and you have given us back our dignity and honor, thank you Lord that you sent Christ to redeem us, in Jesus' name, Amen!