Restoring Priorities
Consider how you have fared. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat, but you never have your fill. (Haggai 1:5-6)
Hag. 1:2-15 and 2:10-19; Eccl. 2:11 and 6:7; Isa 55:2; Jn. 6:27; Eph. 4:17
What Is God Saying?
The last three books of the Old Testament address Israel's problems upon its return from exile. The task of rebuilding the Temple fell to the first wave of returning exiles. The Babylonians demolished the Temple in 587, and the priority was to rebuild the most essential thing in the land. The Temple was a place to unite their voices in praise, to pray, and to show their thankfulness for deliverance from the humiliation and shame of the Babylonian captivity.
One would think that this high-priority task would proceed smoothly. But time, diverse loyalties, and human apathy can dull national goals. The zeal was gone, and work stopped. But Haggai's message served as much to re-establish priorities as for its appeal to get busy on the Temple. Read also Haggai 2:10-19. From the day the people stopped being wrapped up in themselves, their comforts, ambitions, welfare, and security, God began to bless them. Put first things first and God will bless every aspect of life.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Consider the things of less importance that have taken over in our lives. It is not the rebuilding of a Temple that has suffered from our neglect, but we may be drifting away from worship, prayer, and attending to the needs of others. We need to make conscious, daily decisions that His ways will be our ways, His thoughts our thoughts, His love our love, His work our work. When coming to prayer, always search out priorities.
Pray With Me
Lord, Your way alone brings enduring peace and satisfying abundance. Give me wisdom now as I consider my ways.
Am I directing my feet into the path of Your will? Am I defensive or proud? Yes, Lord, I am. Only honest answers will do. Remove these inner frictions. Bring an end to my heart's civil war. Convict me and cleanse me, Spirit of the living God. Do not let me accept anything less until Your will and ways are mine. I have known the futility of unfruitful labor. Eating to the full can still leave me hungry. Have I not known enough of this barren existence? Leave me not to the tyranny of self-will. In the light of Your perfect knowledge and patient love, help me reconsider my ways until I make Your way my way.
In the name of Him whose love forever satisfies and whose blessing forever endures. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
Prayer is the time to search out and hold on to God's priorities. In the stillness of prayer, God has a chance to spotlight the places we ought to go, the things we ought to do, the people we ought to care for and love in unique ways, the letters we ought to write, the relationships we should restore or abandon, the forgiveness we ought to give or to seek, the little ambitions we ought to give up, the little acts of kindness that mean so much and go so far. Prayer is the time for prioritizing.
