Although I sometimes feel like I’m trying to grasp the wind with my hands to grab hold of what God is telling me, today wasn’t such a day.

When the Israelites had returned from exiled in Babylon to Jerusalem and laid the foundation of the new temple we are told, “many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy” (Ezra 3:12 NIV). The temple had been destroyed 50 years earlier, but some of the priests and Levites might likely have been in exile longer since the total time of their exile to Babylon had been 70 years.

We are creatures of time. Our days on this earth are numbered, and none of us know when they will end. When we look at our lives, we only know the days that have passed. For good or ill. Even in the day that is called, “Today” we can only guess what’s going to happen. However, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. A promise that God made to His children 2,000 years ago is just as good as it was the day that it was made. However, being creatures of time, when we look to former days, especially those days we considered, “good,” we can, if we’re not careful, long for those days. Scripture tells us, “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?'” and then reminds us, “it is not from wisdom that you ask this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10 ESV).

Those who remembered the former glory of the temple appeared to have forgotten the One who dwelt in it. We have no power to take away or add to the glory of the Lord. No matter how many temples we might make or the sin in our lives. We know from the book of Haggai that people were looking only at the former glory of the temple and not at God.

‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?’ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

Haggai 2:4-5 (NIV)

God doesn’t call us to look back at the former things because those are just things. Here, in Ezra, we see two different perspectives; the older priests and Levites remember where they came from and weep, while the younger people know only the future hope of God. What perspective should we take in our lives? We cannot change the past. However, we can remember it and bring glory to God for it, in addition to what He’s doing now, and for the future hope in Him.

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Luke 9:47 (NIV)

I think we all know people of great faith. It could be a pastor, an elder, or someone you know who has the faith in God to get a prayer answered. I’ve heard a few sermons about this woman who touched Jesus and was healed from the issue of blood after 12 years of suffering with it. How she had great faith to be able to just touch the Lord and be healed. Jesus tells her, “Your faith has healed you” (Luke 8:48 NIV). We are told there were so many people crowding Jesus that they almost crushed Him (Luke 8:41).

I see those people, in the crowd, like us. All of us who believe in the Lord. Luke tells us, “when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him” (Luke 8:40 NIV). Too often, we look to other people who, we “know,” to have more faith than we do, and diminish ourselves. Sure, we might lift up a prayer to the Lord, but we believe if we also have someone else pray for us, that person who can get a prayer through, then the Lord will give us a favorable answer. I want you to be encouraged today to know that the Lord hears your prayers. If you believe in the Lord, you have faith, and you have enough faith to get your prayers answered. There’s nothing wrong with having people pray for you. We are to carry one another’s burdens and to love one another. However, don’t ever believe the measure of faith God has given to you isn’t enough.

Do you know God? God knows you and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so that we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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