“…for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.\u201d
\nThe closing words of the short book of Haggai.
\nThey are especially important because they are spoken to a people who have been conquered, the Temple is in shambles and they are trying to rebuild with a lack of… well, basically everything.
\nAfter they set the foundation, some of the old timers who had seen the first temple started talking about the good old days and how this Temple was going to be nothing like ‘their’ Temple.
\n
\nSigh<\/i>.
\nThe project is huge.
\nThe cost is high.
\nMorale is low.
\nBut, then something amazing happens. They obeyed anyway.
\nThe response from God is immediate… “I am with you.”
\nGod stirs the hearts of the leaders, the priests and the people and they start working.
\nDespite overwhelming circumstances, crippling pressure and massive unknowns, God gives them the ability to “Be strong” (three times in Haggai 2:4), “Work” (Haggai 2:4), and “Fear not” (Haggai 2:5).
\nAll because, “My Spirit remains in your midst.”
\nGod then pours blessing on their obedience by six times using the phrase “I will” or “mine” in reference to Him finishing the task and filling up the Temple.
\nGod has this!
\nI do not know what your up against, or the weight that you are struggling under. But, I do know this; God’s not scared and He shows up in the lives of the obedient.
\nMaybe it’s time to stop focusing on the “I cannot”s floating around in your mind and start dwelling on the “I will”s in Gods word.
\n“…for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“…for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.\u201d The closing words of the short book of Haggai. They are especially important because they are spoken to a people who have been conquered, the Temple is in shambles and they are trying to rebuild with a lack of… well, basically everything. After they set … <\/p>\n