The Lord says: "This is the time to see My good hand in your life! My hand will guide you. My hand will lead you. My hand will make a way for you. My hand will build you. My hand will rebuild you. My hand will restore you. Whatever your past brokenness and shame may be, or whatever in your life that has been shattered, watch My good hand mend and heal you in this time and season."
See the good hand of the Lord in your life!
When the Lord spoke about His good hand, it reminded me of the book of Ezra, because in this book, one can see numerous times it's been mentioned 'the good hand of the Lord'!
Ezra 7:9 says, 'On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.'
You see? The good hand of the Lord was upon Ezra. Who is this Ezra? He's a scribe, and many scholars believe Ezra wrote this book of Ezra, which is a story of the return of God's people from captivity (in Babylon) back to their own land (in Judah and Jerusalem).
By the way, what does the name 'Ezra' mean? 'Ezra' actually means 'Yahweh helps'. This name comes from the Hebrew word 'Ezer' meaning 'to help, to protect, to aid, to surround'. It speaks of the hand of the Lord helping you, protecting you, aiding you, and surrounding you!
And that was exactly what happened in the book of Ezra! The Lord was helping His people to return from their captivity (in Babylon) back to Jerusalem! The Lord was helping His people in the rebuilding of the destroyed temple in Jerusalem!
And this is very interesting. In Ezra 1:2-3, the Lord actually moved and stirred the heart of King Cyrus (the Persian king) to make a proclamation for God's people to return to their own land and to rebuild the destroyed temple in Jerusalem!
In fact, Cyrus even acknowledged Yahweh as the God of heaven. He was saying, "All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me..." If you look at the Hebrew translation here, 'the Lord God' here is 'Yahweh'. Therefore, he was actually proclaiming, "All the kingdoms of the earth Yahweh has given me." So, he was acknowledging the God of Israel, Yahweh, as the God of heaven and earth!
And Cyrus was saying, "Yes, you people of the Lord, you can go back to your land. Build the house of the Lord. Build the house of Yahweh."
And these words came from a pagan king!
Hallelujah!
How does this apply to you right now? This speaks of a time to be set free from captivity has come! This speaks of a time to declare liberty in your life has come! Free from your bondage! Free from whatever yoke that has held you back! Free from whatever past brokenness or shame! And you are being released to be (and to do) all that the Lord has purposed for you in this new time and season!
Beloved of God, see yourself like God's people in the book of Ezra right now! That's why this book is so important in this time and season. It's such an encouragement, especially if your life has been shattered, or if your life has been broken (or shamed) in the past.
Look to the Lord right now. He will know how to restore you. He will know how to heal you. He will know how to build you. He will even know how to do the rebuilding in your life.
Do you see Jesus in the book of Ezra here? Jesus is in the Old Testament concealed, and Jesus is in the New Testament revealed. So over here, see Jesus as the Restorer, Builder, and even Rebuilder of your life!
And yes, no matter what had happened in your past, like God's people those days, there is hope! And you too will see a greater future, going forward! Hallelujah!
Prayer: "O Lord God, we thank You for Your good hand moving in our lives. Your hand shall help us. Your hand shall guide us and lead us. Your hand shall make a way for us. Your hand shall build or rebuild for us. Your hand shall restore and heal us, no matter what our past brokenness and shame may be. Like Ezra, we receive all that You have spoken today. In Jesus' name. Amen."
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