We have these ideas in our head of what our lives should like, the path we should take, and what we would like to accomplish.
This is all well and good, but sometimes we need our vision renewed —-> revived, recovered, repaired, or just improved.
The Jerusalem Temple lay in ruins nearly twenty years after the people returned from their exile. One might think, and logically so, rebuilding takes time, effort, and funding.
But an Old Testament prophet had a problem with what he saw, for the people themselves were living comfortably. They had rebuilt their own lives and homes, while neglecting the Temple.
“Be strong all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Haggai 2:4b, NLT)
My Bible Commentary sheds this light:
“Haggai gave Israel a renewed vision of how their efforts would serve God’s plan for his people.” (from the NLT Study Bible)
Haggai brought the people a renewed vision. He revived, recovered, repaired and improved their vision. He brought them into focus and aligned them with God’s will and purposes.
But it happened with a shaking up of sorts; and God works the same in our lives yet today …
“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakeable things will remain.” (Hebrews 12:26-27, NLT)
God’s kingdom and work are immutable, and so they have eternal qualities and stability. God will often shake up our lives, our routines, and our circumstances so that the things which are not of Him are removed. They slip away like water in a sieve, and what remains in our lives is eternal and of Him.
When the Lord shakes things up, He does so not to our detriment
but so that only the unshakeable will remain in our lives,
and His vision for our lives is renewed.
Today I am joining … Heart Encouragement and Destination Inspiration .
It’s so easy to think that a shake up is something that is working against us. But this idea that God is in control (even of the shake ups) is so powerful. I love the visual of a sifting. I want all the things that don’t belong to be sifted away. But in order to do that I need that shake up. God is so gracious in the way He cares for us, even in the shaking.
He knows us so well, He knows to shake just enough so as to sift but not harm us. You are right, Rebecca, He is gracious – even in the shaking.
One phrase that is on repeat in my head these days (and I think it’s from James Smith?) is:
I am one who in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the strong and unshakable kingdom of God.
And now that I”m starting to listen to the Messiah again this fall, I’m hearing this truth in bass notes, for God WILL SHAKE all that is shakable so that what remains will be firm under our feet.
Thank you for sharing these powerful thoughts, Michele, for you blessed me today!
This is beautiful and encouraging. laurensparks.net
Thank you for getting me to look more critically at the good God sends us that doesn’t always look good at first glance. I love these words —>
When the Lord shakes things up, He does so not to our detriment
but so that only the unshakeable will remain in our lives,
and His vision for our lives is renewed.