“but during the seventh year let the land lie unploughed and unused” - Exodus 23: 11 (NIV)
For a great many people the lockdown that was effected during the corona virus epidemic was the worst thing that could ever have happened. Aside from those who were concerned for being denied of the means of production and livelihood, a perfect and worthy concern, some others were restless only because they wanted to be out there doing stuff.
All throughout our lives many of us are ever on the go. We rise up early and hit the road to chase deals. We enter the rat race fighting our way to the top. For some of us we return home late at night and hardly ever spend time with our loved ones, after all we are out there working for them.
But then came the lockdown. For the first time we had now to sit down and let the world be. If ours was the notion that nothing could go on without us being there here was a humbling moment.
Now in some instance against our insistence we would find that after all sitting back and resting was a good thing for not just our beaten bodies long denied of a good rest but also our families. For long ago God had decreed that even the land on which we eke our living should be let to rest, so that it can be rejuvenated to yield better harvest.
To rest, pause, let things be, sit back and hear from God, is therefore a good thing.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that wherever you will I do every now and then hold back, rest and hear from you.
Related upcoming events
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03/12/2023 - 04/12/2023 All day“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the seven capstones in the hand of Zerubbabel” – (Zechariah 4:10)
Setbacks are common to life. Perhaps you once started on a task and it has faced obstacles along the way, derailing it. Do not give up.
Maybe you could look to Zerrubbabel, the leader of the people of Judah, who was called by God to begin rebuilding the temple after exile in Babylon. Perhaps he imagined it a quicksand project. Yet what was clearly a call from God and a good work at that would take 17 years to see to completion!
When he first raised a foundation Zerubbabel found his people giving him little credit. “But 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…” (Ezekiel 3:12). Later some people set out to discourage him. “Then the people around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and made them afraid to go on building” (Ezra 4:4).
Any of us here could relate. Who has not handled that job which didn’t go to plan! But just as Zerubbabel faced a setback and eventually overcame, you too should have faith God will see you through. As the word of the Lord says: “being confident in the day that he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray to hold on to that dream you have given me and will see it to completion however long it might take, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
