Day 121, or May 1. The best of intentions are not always enough. Our thoughts today are
rooted in Ezra chapter 1 verse 5. Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the
priests and Levites, everyone whose heart God had moved, prepared to go up and build
the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.
Now the big picture surrounding this verse. The book of Ezra is unusual in that Ezra
himself only comes on to the scene in chapter 7 of this ten-chapter book. He could well
be the author of the books of Chronicles, and was very influential in the settling of
the returning Jews after their exile in Babylonia. After seventy years in exile, the most fervent
and determined of the Jews, almost fifty thousand in total, set off to rebuild their temple,
and through it reestablish their nation in the land that their God had given them so
many centuries ago. Their forefathers had let themselves and God down badly. But this
new generation were determined to succeed where their ancestors had failed so miserably.
And now today's action step. Have you ever resolved to change and do the right thing
in the future? You'll be a very unusual person if you hadn't. New Year's resolutions may
not be as popular as they used to be, but most of us have the intention to turn over
a new leaf many times in our lifetime. However, for the more important promises and resolutions,
simply being determined is rarely enough. Of course, we do need to be determined, but
we also need the help of God if we are to know true, long-lasting life change. God is
always pleased to see our efforts to become more like His Son Jesus. But too often we
go one way to frustrate the process when we thank Him at the beginning, and then declare
independence for the rest of the process. It could be that there is some change in your
life today that you have started but are unable to fulfil. Why not ask God now to help you
further your cause, but be ready for it not to succeed if God has other plans for you?