“Now in the fourth year of King Darius it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev, when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the Lord, and to ask the priests who were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month and fast as I have done for so many years?” Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ””
Zechariah 7:1-7 NKJV
Thrill ride
There is a tendency of some people, to bear down on the practices of the faith when trouble comes. The trial pressures the Christian, and they pray all the more, they seek to read their bibles more, and they seek to live holy lives. Then, when the trial passes, it is back to the old ways, the lukewarm life, ignoring God.
We do the things of God not be closer to Him, but to get out of trouble.
Reading Zechariah chapter seven this morning, I found myself reflecting on my own past life, principally my reactions to trial in the early days of my faith. When trials came, I was the one who would draw close to the Lord, praying hard, and doing those things I thought would bring God closer to me.
My spiritual life was a roller coaster, a thrill ride of epic proportions, for I oscillated to and from, drawing here and moving away from the Lord. Meanwhile I prayed prayers asking the Lord to make me new, that I would have His heart, and His view of the lost. I prayed that I would be like David, being one after His heart.
The Lord answered all those prayers.
What has followed is a life of constant trial, demanding my constant conscious contact with my Savior. Circumstances have forced me to embrace the Lord day after day, and what was done under obligation under the duress of trial, is now ongoing. It has move from survival to thriving, as I seek the Lord regardless of the circumstance I am in.
When I worship the Lord, I do so out of my love for Him, for my devotion, and not for what I desire He do for me. Gone are the days of self driven worship, where all is done to assuage my own guilt, but for the glory of God.
The Lord addressed the children of Israel as they wondered ion they were to fast on such and such a day or another.
“Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?’ ””
Zechariah 7:4-7 NKJV
Right now, my life is stable, as prosperous as it is going to get. In this time of peace, I am clinging all the more to my Lord, reading His word and letting the Holy Spirit build me up for the battle to come. And battles are coming.
Brothers and sisters, now is the time to seek the Lord, while there is peace in the house of God. We here in America still have the freedom to practice our faith, and go forth and tell others. Though there is some push back, it is nothing like what will soon come.
Rather than waiting until things get really bad, let us establish a love relationship with our Savior now. Let all that we do be about Him, about our adoration of the God/Man who came to earth, lived as one us, died for our sins and rose from the grave.
He has done great things!
He is worthy of all honor, of all glory. The trials are coming, and it will be an opportunity to shine forth for the glory of God. There will be no concerns for the forms and functions of our worship, for we will do so with a devoted heart, steadfast and focused on Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.””
John 4:21-24 NKJV
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Revelation 19:6-8 NKJV
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we now have the opportunity to glorify the Lord, for in our submission, He has governance over our inward thoughts, our actions, and our desires. May we be motivated to go and tell of what He has done in our lives.
May we not merely act out of obligation, but out of love and may that love be seen by those who themselves are looking for answers. We serve a God who saves, and which the world does not know.
May our lives reflect the stability that come from being followers of Jesus, for our world itself has become a thrill ride, and not is about to go completely off the rails.
THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!
#prayfortheharvest
#prayforthepersecuted
#prayforthepeaceofIsrael
#prayforthegospeltospreadeverywhere
Musings from an idle mind 
So true, Bernie. This leaky cup remains under the faucet of life. I love you brother. Thank you.
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