God-backed security

Today: Ezra 4-7

Probably because of the Great Recession, I've noticed lately that there are lots of ads for banks and financial institutions that talk about security. These companies continually talk about how your finances can be "backed by the FDIC", "insured", "guaranteed" and "safe."

It's all right to have security backed by a bank or the U.S. government--but the best kind of security is God-backed security. I love that when God REALLY gets behind something or someone, it's clear. Sometimes when I have big stuff in front of me, I'll pray simply, "God, make it obvious." And so far, He has.

In today's passage, God's backing was crystal clear: He wanted His people to rebuild His House. Not only did He get them out of captivity to do so, their captors provided HUGE financial resources to make the work possible. Take a look at Ezra's words here:

Blessed be God, the God-of-Our-Fathers,

who put it in the mind of the king

to beautify The Temple of God in Jerusalem!

Not only that, he caused

the king and all his advisors and influential officials

actually to like me and back me.

My God was on my side and I was ready to go.

And I organized all the leaders of Israel to go with me.

You can tell by Ezra's words here that he was a little dumbfounded at God's orchestration of events. God-backed security is like that sometimes--it's so over-the-top amazing that it seems "too good to be true"--but it is!

If you're reading this, I'd love to encourage you with a few things:

• Ask God for wisdom, so that you can make decisions aligned with His backing.
  
• The "God, make it obvious" prayer is a good one, but it's not for the faint of heart--you have to be willing to let doors slam shut in your face occasionally. On the flip side, you also have to be willing to look for the open doors, sometimes in unexpected places.
  
• Ask God for His backing. He wants to help us, but sometimes we just forget to ask.
  

Tomorrow: Ezra 8-10

Rebuilding

Today: Ezra 1-3

When I hear the word "rubble," I think of The Flinstones. :)

But if I were one of God's people at the time today's passage was written, Barney and Wilma wouldn't come to mind. I'd picture the Temple of God and my beloved country--ravaged, forsaken and left in rubble.

One thing I know for sure about God? He doesn't like to leave things or people in shambles. In today's chapters, the people of Judah were actually sent back to rebuild their homes and God's House.

It's an interesting passage to read on Easter weekend. To be honest, there are a lot of people on this planet whose lives resemble piles of rubble. Some people feel like Humpty Dumpty--they believe that their lives are so broken that they can't be put back together again. Others don't see their brokenness, but that doesn't mean they're whole--piles of rubble might be all around them.

The good news is that God is a great rebuilder (He'd probably be REALLY good at puzzles, too!). He is able to take lives resembling piles of rubble and turn them into inside-out beautiful works of art. God heals the broken and He brings the dead to life.

What can He build in you? What can he resurrect in someone you care about?

I am forever grateful that God continually builds, shapes and molds me. I'm still a work in progress--but I'm thankful to be taken from the rubble and rebuilt. Happy Easter!

Tomorrow: Ezra 4-7