2023 08 26

Good morning.

Obstacles will come; we can choose to focus on them or trust the Lord for direction.

In Ezra 5 & 6 we read the account of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. They faced opposition from certain quarters. But God took care of the mountain of opposition before them.

What that means is, sometimes He will remove the problem; at other times He’ll walk with us through it. But either way, He wants us to depend on Him. This means choosing to:

• Patiently love friends and family.

• Wisely guide others toward godliness.

• Follow scriptural principles about finances.

• Have divine contentment in our current circumstances.

• Do God’s work His way.

Our lives should be characterized by dependence on the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us that we should "walk by the Spirit ..." (Galatians 5:16) While that mindset is countercultural, it’s the only way to live as a follower of Christ.

Seek out others who follow the Spirit’s leading, and spur each other on to live it out.

Blessings.

Mike and Daphne