The Story - Chapter 21 - Rebuilding the Walls

Ezra gave God all the glory for softening the heart of the Persian King who encouraged the second wave of captives to return to their homeland, Jerusalem.  How often have I taken credit for God's work?  How often have I prayed for God to help and then forget to give Him the glory when my prayers are answered?

Ezra 7:27-28 (NIV)
^"Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king's heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me." 

The people returning to their homeland leaned on God, they prayed for safe passage and they arrived unharmed, without military escort, after several months.  Ezra recognized God's blessing on them. God caused the King to be generous and open up the storehouses which held much of the plunder from so many years ago.  The King instructed Ezra and his people to take it back, refurnish the Temple of the Lord.  Ezra acknowledged God's hand upon the King.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season, is this week.  It is time to consider all that God has done for us.  It is time to consider how we can draw closer to Him, rely on Him and give Him the glory.  God has been a constant presence for me this past two years, and I have learned how to lean on Him daily. Consider your life and God's activity on your behalf.  Call to mind the answered prayers and the miracles in your life and then give God the glory.


Read Ezra 7 here

Listen to Ezra 7 here