PRESS ON //

When this blog started today as part of my daily reading and journaling time, I had no idea where it was going.  I just had this nagging feeling that I needed to listen and then to write, and to write a lot, and that it had a point for me and for someone else.

If you’re reading this, then it might have been for you.

These past few months and especially weeks have been so life-giving and informative.  If you haven’t followed my journey thus far, just know I’ve been learning and writing about patience and trusting in God’s Plan for months now (see previous posts: PATIENCE, PRESENCE, PLANS, PLACES, POTENTIAL).

This really hit home at a new level today.

This morning I read from Ezra chapters 3 and 4.  A little back story for you, these two chapters are in the middle of the larger story on the rebuilding of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem.

I landed specifically on two verses:  Ezra 3:11, and 4:4.

Ezra 3:11 says, “And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”

Ezra 4:4, “Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.”

The first verse is so empowering — the people praised loudly because the foundations of the glorious temple were laid.  Historically, they were doing an amazing thing—rebuilding Solomon’s temple that was prophesied to be even more glorious than the first (Haggai 2:7-9, Ezekiel 43), only to be surpassed by the future coming glory of Christ in His return (often referred to as the newest or Third Temple) (Revelation 21:22-23).

But the second verse is a little upsetting. “The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.”

I like to think of the Temple today being the things we try to accomplish for the Lord.  I was reminded early this morning when I read these verses and then again throughout the day that this is not an easy task, doing things for the Lord on this fallen earth.  There will always be enemies of Judah trying to discourage us from accomplishing the tasks God has laid out for us (or in the case of the Temple, commanded us).  Someone or something is always going to try to stop us from building our Temple.

I was reminded today that we are not called to an Easy life. 

Someone once told me that the closer you get to God, the more you’re a target for the devil, and man was that true in this story today.  I was talking to a friend as recently as yesterday who just came to know the Lord and she reminded me how it’s hard its been every day since to resist the temptations of her former life.  It is a new battle every day.  She just gave me one very relevant example of an ongoing spiritual battle, but I know of so many more within the hearts of my friends and the people of my community.

We’re coming closer to Christ, so the enemy is coming closer to us.

This was big for me today because I’ve been learning all these wonderful, uplifting things about God having plans for me and trusting in that, but today was a healthy reminder that just because He has a plan for my Destination, doesn’t mean it’s going to be a straight and clear path to get there.

In the wake of the Second Temple and in anticipation of the Third, this will NOT be easy!  But we can be encouraged that the day of the Third is coming, and the glory of Jesus will overcome the enemies of Judah and all our obstacles!

Until then, we can press on and lay the foundations.  May we not be afraid to keep building our temples!!

Press on, Believer, PRESS ON.

…

This song needs no intro.  I hope it blesses you today as it has me.

Let the King of my heart

Be the mountain where I run

The fountain I drink from

Oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the shadow where I hide

The ransom for my life

Oh, He is my song

‘Cause You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

And let the King of my heart

Be the wind inside my sails

The anchor in the waves

Oh-oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the fire inside my veins

The echo of my days

Oh-oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the wind inside my sails

The anchor in the waves

Oh-oh, He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the fire inside my veins

The echo of my days

Oh, He is my song

‘Cause You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You’re never gonna let

You’re never gonna let me down

And You’re never gonna let

You’re never gonna let me down

You’re never gonna let

You’re never gonna let me down

You’re never gonna let

You’re never gonna let me down

Oh ’cause You are good

You are good, oh-oh

‘Cause You are good

You are good, oh-oh

‘Cause You are good

You are good, oh-oh

You are good

You are good, oh-oh..

You’re never gonna let

You’re never gonna let me down…