Lord God, from today’s scriptures it is clear that you have moved armies, governments, civilizations to accomplish Your will. You told Your prophets, who told the people, exactly what would happen if they did not keep their covenant with You.
Their choices were clear. In obedience they would receive Your blessings. Disobedience would bring Your curses and they would be removed from the land You gave them as an inheritance. Even knowing this, and being reminded by the prophets, their hearts were hard and they chose curses by their behavior.
You even told Your prophet Jeremiah that their captivity would last seventy years. And the prophet Isaiah gave the name of the king who would return them to their land one hundred and fifty years before it happened!
Sure enough, because of their continued disobedience, they were captured and taken away into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon. Then the Persians came to power and overtook Babylon. Their King Cyrus announced he would build a temple in Jerusalem for the Lord, the God of heaven. Any of Your people in captivity would be free to go!
This happened seventy years after captivity began as predicted! And the man who released them as promised by prophecy was not even born when he was named by the prophet!
So I can believe with assurance in the prophecies You have given about the coming days. All You revealed to John on the island of Patmos, and more about the end times. Of course, I do not pretend to know Your exact time table, but I know I need to be ready.
I need to be living like You have shown me, and being obedient to receive Your blessings. I need to be watching so I am not misled. My faith must not rest on man’s wisdom, but on Your power.
I believe that I must “wait for You”. For Your wisdom, perspective, for Your perfect timing in my life. Help me be patient while I am waiting. Help me to “be strong and take heart”.
You will move things in Your timing: armies, governments, civilizations. You hold the hearts of men and kings in Your hand. And I believe I will see Your goodness, in my life, while I live.
Thank You for Your blessings. For Your promises. For Your prophecies. And for answering me when I seek Your face. Amen
Ezra 1:1-11; Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Psalm 27:13-14
Daily Bible Prayer 
Wow…what perfect timing to read this! This weekend we sent our youngest daughter Holly with her husband off to Florida. God confirmed this was His leading, and Rich and I are wondering if we will soon follow. It has been 40 years almost to the day that I moved with my family out here from New Jersey. I will be patient, watch and wait. Seek first the Kingdom. Thank you Laura, for using your gifts to advance the Kingdom. I remember all our many times of prayer for our children over the years, and always ponder how you told me each time you played for me that you would hear “In quietness and trust is your strength”. I keep remembering that. Have a restful day today, knowing you are precious in his sight.
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A great word.
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