““Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”
Haggai 1:4-7 NKJV
Over the years I’ve learned to take resistance as a sign to slow down – if not stop altogether – and re-evaluate the situation before me.
Most recently, it’s been with house hunting. Every time we looked in the city we just knew in our minds we would call home, we felt no peace at all. Every house I looked at online felt dark. I dreaded driving by them. Every mile felt “heavy” – there was zero peace. When Vance and I talked about it, he agreed. As soon as we stopped looking in that county, peace returned.
In the passage above, the Lord speaks through Haggai the prophet and says twice: “consider your ways”. The original Hebrew makes this more meaningful for me. The phrase meant to direct your mind towards your actions and thoughts – specifically your moral decisions.
The Lord is speaking through Haggai about rebuilding the Temple – why should the people have nice houses when His is in ruins? Why are they neglecting the place for His presence?
He’s put resistance before them. He’s allowed them to experience scarcity rather than abundance for the purpose of getting their attention. In other words – those things happened to get their attention – if they have resistance or scarcity, perhaps they’ll look to HIM for help. He still speaks that way today.
Vance reminded me of a word a friend gave us years ago – find where you’re being spiritually fed and plant yourselves there. It was a formula that worked for us from 2004 – 2015. Our last moves included home first – then church, and it’s been more challenging. I don’t know where we’ll land, I don’t know where we’ll finally put roots and be “home” – but I do know that He promises to be with us. We’ll continue to look and listen. We’ll consider our ways carefully and lean into His presence. We desire to be a part of His work on the earth and we know He has a place for us to put down roots and pick up our instruments to help build His house here on earth.
Father – thank You for Your Word and encouragement today. You know our hearts and deepest desires. Guide us. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Haggai 1-2
September 20, 2022