Prayer: Father, I seek Your favor. May I see today the things which Ezra did to gain Your favor. Amen.
Reading: Ezra 7 key: vs. 27-28 “Blessed be Adonai, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the heart of the king to beautify the House of Adonai in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and all the king’s mighty princes. I gained strength, as the hand of Adonai my God was upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.” TLV
Attention: I remember a time in my junior high schooling when I turned out for the 8th grade basketball team. A recent graduate from a private denominational college became my basketball coach. He held the philosophy of selecting a team of five boys who would start and play the entire game. These same five players would be his starting team for the rest of the season. The rest of the team was a scrimmage team. He never stated his philosophy to the team, but this is the way it played out for the rest of the season.
I was never so discouraged, as I was not one of the five selected to be the starting team. Each game I sat on the bench. I never missed a practice. I never saw a minute of playing time. My mother came to every home game and on the way home, she would hear me cry and lament not getting to play. Her answer to me was to quit. I could not quit. I would not quit.
It was not until I was in high school that I heard from the then varsity junior high school coach. He told me that he was watching me during the whole 8th grade basketball ordeal. He told me that he had toyed with the idea of bringing me onto the 9th grade team but knew he could not justify moving a player up which not even starting for the 8th grade team. I was a starting guard for the 9th grade team, and I started every year after that.
I believe now that God was watching out for me through my 9th grade coach. Just as God, Adonai was watching out for Ezra. Through Darius and then King Artaxerxes’, God “extended his (favor) lovingkindness to me “before the king and his counselors and all the kings’ mighty princes.” Ezra documents that he “gained strength, as the hand of Adonai my God was upon me.”
The hand of God was upon Ezra because he embraced the Torah which was given to Moses. We are told that Ezra was “skilled” in the Torah, which meant he knew the Law of God. He preached and taught the Torah and lived by it. Obedience to God and His word was a lifestyle for Ezra.
I too was greatly encouraged by the words my 9th grade coach expressed to me. I can see now that the hand of God was on my life each step of the way. The more I have known the Word of God, become skilled in His Word, applied and lived by His Word, the more I experience His favor.
Action: I choose to see the hand of God on my life.
Yield: I choose to yield to the lifestyle which brings God’s favor.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimacy with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, the formula for successful living is to be obedient to Your Word. Knowing Your Word is not enough. We must be doers of Your Word. Obedience is a lifestyle of submission to God. I desire Your favor, Lord. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalm 119:10-11 “With my whole heart have I sought You —let me not stray from Your mitzvot. I have treasured Your word in my heart, so I might not sin against You.” TLV
Music Video: Francesca Battistelli—Holy Spirit https://youtu.be/3zARVp3420I?si=ecfMWPliB-FlDwS7
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”