Corona Devo 3226

There were no open rooms left in the hotel, even though we called early for reservations with the group block, and so my husband did something he's never done: we rented a little house in the (out of state) area where we were playing soccer.  Just about the same cost as the hotel...but space for five, and no one had to be on an inflatable mattress on the floor.  It was lovely.

...And a lake.  A little lake, but one of the prettiest I've seen, and the peace that emitted from it was vast. 

On the lake and lakeside, we had smores, we fished a little, kayaked a little, got submerged a little...and under the guise of soccer games: we were a family together.  It was truly wonderful, and on the last lovely morning...as our kids slept, and my husband jogged, I walked down to the lake to sit with God and His Word.  Each morning on this walk down, I panned the trees just in case a bald eagle (one of my heart's delights) might be in the area, and today I thought to myself how neat it would be to see one before we flew back home...even though the lake seemed too small, and the trees too weak for a perching.  But still...a girl can dream.

And a personal God can do as He pleases to please His children.

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Zechariah 8:6

I sat down on the dock and began to read the Bible.  Mornings alone with the Lord are invaluable and we learn that truth from Jesus Himself: 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  ~Mark 1:35

As I read Zechariah Chapter 8, titled "Promises for God's People", the prophet Zechariah speaks of a time to come when the Lord's people, young and old will gather in His Holy City of Jerusalem.  Old people will mill around, and also sit and chatter: just as they should.  And the young folk will be active and play in the streets...just as they (too) should.

Then another message came to me from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: (2) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem! 

(3) “And now the Lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain. 

(4) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. (5) And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.  ~Zechariah 8:1-5

Yes, it will be lovely for God's people one day soon enough: the Bible tells us so.  

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. (8) I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.  ~Zechariah 8:7-8

It will be lovely for God's people one day soon enough, and so: we can hang-in-here today, just knowing that.  

Hoping in that.  

Trusting in that. 

Do we sometimes feel as if we march in this army of the Lord with few other spiritual soldiers beside us?  The ridicule is regular, and the trials are consistent for those who proclaim Christ and live for Him (and in opposition to the world).  

But we must never forget or underestimate the intimate love and knowledge-of-us that our Heavenly and Holy Father has for us, His children: His small remnant.  It may seem as if there are not many of us in today's world, and that is true.  

But, oh the love and fierce pride that God has for His kids, and while the road may become difficult, He takes each step with us, friends.  And nothing is impossible for Him, even if all this may seem impossible to us now.   

(6) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Zechariah 8:6

May we be encouraged by God's Word today.  May we be emboldened to live-out-loud as God's small remnant today.  May we be humbled by the truth of His intimate knowledge of us today.

After reading Zechariah 8:6 (But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies) something caught my eye and I watched as a bald eagle swooped in to land in a stick tree directly in front of me across the lake.  Right in front of me.  

The crows in the surrounding trees went berserk in their cawing, and a few even flew in his area, but with one ruffle of his majestic wings, the eagle asserted his space and his dominance, as he stayed perched powerfully on the limb on which he had landed.


I sat still, facing directly forward, my gaze fixed on the eagle that God had plucked from my thoughts and placed in my sight.

A tear rolled down my cheek.  What can we say when the Lord brushes so near to our Spirit and makes  Himself known to us in such personal ways?

(6) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  ~Zechariah 8:6

Have we considered today how personally and intimately the God that we serve and worship feels about us?  Knows us?  Delights to love us...simply because we love Him?

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  ~Psalm 37:4

Can we even imagine that our Lord knows our innermost thoughts and that He delights to delight in his children?

  • You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. (2) You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  ~Psalm 139:1-2 
  • He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.  ~Psalm 18:19

The Bible has lovely promises for us, God's children.  

Zechariah Chapter 8 speaks of what is coming for those who follow Christ, and God reminds us today through His Word that even if something may seem doubtful, improbable, or impossible to us (such as a bald eagle landing in our vicinity): nothing is impossible for our God.   

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Zechariah 8:6).

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 





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