Today’s Scripture: Ezra 7-8
In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. – 2 Chronicles 31:21
Have you ever looked at someone who was being used by God in a special way and wondered why the Lord seems to have His hand on that man or woman? Why is God using that person and not someone else? What is the secret of their spiritual success?
Ezra 7:9 says of Ezra, “The gracious hand of his God was upon him.” And the reason is found in the next verse: “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”
First, Ezra prepared his heart. This implies that Ezra prayed. Second, Ezra sought the law of the Lord through His written Word. Third, when God spoke to Ezra from His Word and revealed His will, Ezra did it. Obedience was a lifestyle with this man. And fourth, Ezra was diligent to share God’s truth with others.
These four disciplines are no mystery, and they certainly aren’t for Ezra alone. Leighton Ford has a beautiful way of summarizing these four spiritual disciplines: study the Bible through; pray it in; live it out; pass it on. Prayer, the Word, obedience, and witnessing. Four simple, ordinary, everyday practices by which you and I can experience the gracious hand of the Lord our God on our lives. May God grant us the grace to pay the price in time and energy to see it happen.
Prayer
Lord, please keep Your gracious hand on my life so that I might live by Your direction and power. Amen.
To Ponder
Describe what your life would be like if your approach to the Word was to study it through, pray it in, live it out, and pass it on.
DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION 