via TJC
“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Haggai 1:9-11
Today we continue our journey with Haggai, one of the shortest books in the Bible with only 2 chapters and around 920 words. Haggai is a prophet from around 520 BC who calls the Istaelites, returning after being set free from their Babylonian exile, to focus their rebuilding efforts on rebuilding God’s temple. He lets them know that until they do, the fruits of their labor will be greatly diminished.
How often do you think that things are not working out in your life because God is actively working against you? Have you ever encountered such a thought? I had this thought in my recent search for a job after getting laid off unexpectedly. The first good prospect froze hiring right before the interview and then fired a bunch of staff, the second prospect refocused away from the sales position just one day before I was going to get an offer. So I started to wonder. Is God trying to get me to refocus on him before opening up the door to my next assignment? I started to comb through my life with my wife to see what was in disarray and after making a long list, I have been focusing on my relationship to money and prayer. I had to conclude that I had not adequatly budgeted our money in years and while credit cards were being paid off, I was still not a great steward for our money. Moving forward, I now know how to lay out our finances in a way we can understand so we can plan for charity in a way we have not been able to. I have peace knowing how much we spend per month and how much is necessary and how much is for nonessentials. After being in this cave for a few months, I am prepared to properly use the resources that God blesses me with I the future.
Daily Battle Order:
Today take stock of your requests of God. Are there any items that you can feel God blocking? Pray today for more insight into how the condition of your heart impacts the ability of God to give you what you ask.
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