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Our deep need…. (devo reflection)

Nehemiah 13:6-7a But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem….

Nehemiah was gone for 10-12 years, and when he returned, he realized all the progress he made before had been undone. I feel like the problem was that the people were fulfilling Nehemiah’s dream, so when he left, it was easy to let things slide, eventually sliding back near where they were before he started. They weren’t really that personally invested in his dream.

Nehemiah 13:7b …Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.

I think that’s a chief reason for God’s focus on free will and relationships. He is the Creator of the universe. He could make us do anything He wanted. But He wants a partnership, not a dictatorship. He wants us to understand our deep need for Him, which can only come through relationship. 

Nehemiah 13:10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You need me to partner with You for my own sake, so that I understand my deep need for You, so that Your dreams become my dreams, so I can live the life You planned for me. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Amen.

Nehemiah 13:23 Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab.

Have a blessed day.

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Making a way…. (devo reflection)

Ezra 5:2 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.

Ezra 5:5 begins “But the eye of their God was watching over the elders and the Jews….” I suppose that could be viewed as creepy or intrusive, but to me, it is very comforting. It puts me in mind of Psalm 139, especially verses 7-12, which begin, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” And in this Christmas season, it also puts me in mind of a babe born in a manger, “Immanuel (which means God with us”) (Matt 1:23).

Ezra 5:3 At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, “Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?”

In the difficult times, when I am giving my all, when my sacrifice is simply showing up and doing my best even though I feel I have nothing left to give, God is with me. He sees my sacrifice. He knows my struggle. When I try to pray for those who bully and hate, instead of responding in kind, God is with me. When I shine His light as a beacon of hope for all who are struggling to take the next right step, God is with me, with all of us. He sees. He knows. He is making a way in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:19). Thank You, Jesus.

Ezra 5:4 They also asked, “What are the names of those who are constructing this building?” 

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that You are with us. Always. When we struggle, when we fear, when we doubt, when we respond to hate with love, when we face impossible odds, when we shine Your light for others, You are there. You see. You know. You are making a way. Thank You. Amen.

Ezra 5:5 But the eye of their God was watching over the elders and the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

Have a blessed day.

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A renewed heart…. (devo reflection)

Ezra 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also put it in writing:

Your eyes are not deceiving you. The first three verses of Ezra are exactly the same as the end of 2 Chronicles. One might think that the theme of hope would be the same as well. That’s not what I’m finding. Commentary indicates that 1. Ezra and Nehemiah were originally written as one book and 2. They are about the need for a change of heart, a new heart within the people.

Ezra 1:2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.’”

So what does all thus mean to me? After reconnecting me with hope during this increasingly stressful semester, what lesson can I learn? I need a new heart, a renewed heart. In order to keep from sliding back into the abyss, I’ve got to make changes. Jesus, Help me.

Ezra 1:3 “‘Any of His people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.’”

Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for hope and renewal that can only come from You. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Amen.

Ezra 1:5 Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

Have a blessed day.

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My heart belongs to God…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.”
I struggle with David. He is called a man after God’s own heart, but he was so fallibly human, there are so any times when his flawed humanity showed through so clearly. But God knows his heart, and his heart belongs to God.
2 Samuel 23:3-4 …“When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning….”
I, too, struggle with my fallibility. Way too often, my flawed humanity shows through clearly. But my heart belongs to God as well. I long for Him and seek Him daily. Even when I fail, even when I mess up, in the quiet of my heart, I seek His presence.
2 Samuel 23:5 “If my house we’re not right with God, surely He would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part….”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You that You know our hearts and that You treat us with mercy and grace. Help us to show Your mercy and grace to each other as well, Lord. Help us not to judge but only to love as You love us. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 84:10 A single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house if my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
Have a blessed day.

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Strength and encouragement…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 21:15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.
Lord, I understand being exhausted. After a week of workdays, with the stress and anxiety of the unknown, and a fairly sleepless night, I am utterly exhausted and feeling entirely unprepared for this day. But I know that You are with me always (Matt 28:20). And I know that Your strength is perfected in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). 
2 Samuel 21:17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him….
Lord, I know that I am not the only one feeling out of sorts today. The chaos of this world can be so loud. Thank You for the people You place in my path today to encourage me. Help me to be a source of light and encouragement to them as well so that we can build each other up (1 Thess 5:11). Help us to remember, no matter what we encounter today, that You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
2 Samuel 21:18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines….
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that we are not alone. Thank You for Your strength and encouragement and the strength and encouragement of those You place in my path. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
2 Samuel 21:22 …and they fell at the hands of Davis and his men.
Have a blessed day.

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Peace in the chaos…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 20:1a Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there…. 
Today has me praying for peace in the chaos. My feelings and emotions, my overflowing inbox and PO box, my social media feed, and my own concerns and fears about the upcoming school year and the health and well-being of all, tell me that I should be panicking, that fear is the best response given what’s ahead. But God….
2 Samuel 20:2b …He sounded the trumpet and shouted, “We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, Israel!”
God tells me to “Be still and know….” (Psalm 46:10). God tells me to give all my worries and cares to Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). God tells me to be anxious for nothing, to bring my requests to Him with thanksgiving, and that His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my hear and my mind in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7). 
2 Samuel 20:6 David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and escape from us.”
Lord, Thank You for this day and for this much needed reminder to turn away from the chaos of this world, to turn away my fears, and to bring all of my worries and lay them at Your feet. Thank You for the reminder that You are sovereign, that You are present, that You are my refuge and shelter. Grant me Your peace in the midst of my chaos. Draw me closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 20:22 Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab.
Have a blessed day. I love you.

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Seeking forgiveness and grace…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 15:4 And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”
There is still so much manipulation and deception in this chapter, but I connect to David the parent and David’s faith journey in very real ways. When his oldest son raped his daughter, David did nothing. When his son, Absalom, killed his brother to avenge his sister, David banished him for years, eventually allowing him back, but still banishing Absalom from his sight. I think he clearly sees the flaws of his parenting. As a flawed parent myself, facing the reality of your parenting mistakes is incredibly sobering. You can’t undo. You can only apologize and try to move forward in a more positive direction.
2 Samuel 15:10 Then Absalom sent secret messages throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”
On his faith journey, commentary tells me David wrote at least six Psalms during this period: Psalms 3, 41, 55, 61, 62, and 63. Every single one of these Psalms cries out to God for mercy, peace, and rest. David seeks God, he longs for God, he know God is his unshakable fortress in his distress. His praise is humble and sincere, not obsequious. He knows his sin. He has humbled himself before God.
2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the ability to humble myself before You, to admit my failures and shortcomings, to seek forgiveness and grace. Help me to show to others the same compassion that You lavish upon me. Draw me closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 15:37 So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city.
Have a blessed day.

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Restoration and renewal…. (devo reflection)

2 Samuel 12:10 “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”
David wrote Psalm 51 after he fully realized his sin against God (probably after 2 Samuel 12:13) and was striving to humble himself in God’s presence. I have read the blurb at the beginning of the Psalm before, but I always come to this Psalm when I am struggling. To read it along with 2 Samuel 12 adds a new layer of depth for me.
2 Samuel 12:11 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.’”
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with in me” (Psalm 51:10). “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). My sins are nothing like David’s, but like David, I have cried out these verses to the Lord as I sit in the ashes of my hopes, begging God for restoration and renewal. And God, my precious Savior, gracious and loving and merciful, He hears our pleas. 
2 Samuel 12:12 “‘You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for allowing us to see our way back to You when we lose our way. Thank You for the ability to humble ourselves before You. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, Lord. Draw us closer. Amen.
2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Have a blessed day.

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The Lord is the one who sustains me…. (devo reflection)

1 Samuel 23:2 [David] inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The LORD answered him….
David’s faithful obedience and the Lord’s steadfast love astound me in this section. Saul, the king Israel clamored for, isn’t doing his job. Instead of protecting the people, he’s laser-focused on eliminating David. So God sends David to protect the people of Keilah. Saul gets wind of it and makes plans to go—not to protect his people, but to kill David. Again, David goes to the Lord seeking guidance, and again he receives guidance and direction from God. Even when the Ziphites go to Saul and volunteer information on David’s whereabouts, David goes to God: “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).
1 Samuel 23:4 Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him….
David helps me put my problems in perspective. I’m incredibly thankful no one, especially not a crazed monarch, is after me, trying to kill me. I’m thankful I’m not being asked to do the job of that crazed king by protecting his people. But I am asking myself: What IS God calling me to do? Who IS God calling me to protect and defend? How CAN I be most faithful to God in my roles as Christian, wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher? “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).
1 Samuel 23:14 …Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
Lord, Thank You for this day, this scripture, David’s example. There are so many unknowns in so many areas of my life right now, Lord. Help me to seek You and Your will every moment of every day. Help me to cling to You and to understand what You are calling me to do in Your name. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Samuel 23:26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul….
Have a blessed day.

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You are our refuge…. (devo reflection)

1 Samuel 22:1a David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam….
David has a rich interior life that I never understood until commentary pointed me to the Psalms that correlate with this time. At the beginning of this chapter, he has just escaped from Gath by pretending to be insane so they didn’t realize he was the one who killed Goliath and take revenge.
1 Samuel 22:1a David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam….
Psalm 142 was written as David hides in the cave: “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy” (v1). Psalm 57 is also written during his time in the cave of Adullam: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in You I take refuge” (v1). David cries out to God in his fear and doubt. He realigns himself fully with his Creator, and God hears him and guides him.
1 Samuel 22:1b …When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for David’s example as he struggles with his fear and places his trust in You. There are so many unknowns in so many aspects of our world right now. Help us not forget that You are our refuge. Help us to cry to You for mercy in our fear. Help us to recognize the people You place in our lives to support us on Your path. Help us to walk that path knowing that we can trust in You completely. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Samuel 22:2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
Have a blessed day.