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Daily Inspirational Devotionals
Seeds of Blessing I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. (Zechariah 8:12) Have you ever looked at the silence of God as the seeds of peace and prosperity? When God turns away, does it feel like he’s laying the groundwork for blessing? Does it occur to us that sometimes unanswered prayers are God’s way of pulling weeds and tilling the soil—of working the ground for a future harvest? When the Israelites turned a deaf ear to God’s commands, he responded by turning a deaf ear to their prayers. He remained silent when they most needed his help. And through his silence the people were scattered “as with a whirlwind among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers” (Zechariah 7:14). Soon their land became desolate and barren. “The land that had been so pleasant became a desert,” reports the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 7:14). And God allowed it to happen for a reason. He knew that the people needed to be broken before he could repair them. Had he answered their prayers and propped them up in their defiance, their rebellion would have only grown worse. The Israelites turned back to God, and he again heard their prayers. And his blessings rained down even greater than before. “For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the sky will release the dew. Once more I will make the remnant in Judah and Israel the heirs of these blessings” (Zechariah 8:12). God doesn’t remain silent out of anger or retribution but out of love. When we remain in sin and disobedience, his primary interest is to see us restored. He yearns to bless us, but he refuses to enable us. He knows that unchecked defiance only leads to greater defiance. His discipline is purposeful and loving and needed. And through his silence he is planting the seeds for future blessing. When you feel far from God, don’t ever think that he is far from you. When your prayers have gone unanswered because of sin hidden in your heart, don’t think that God isn’t aware of your pain. He knows that you need him, and he’s waiting to bring you home. And through your obedience, he plans to open the skies of heaven and “release the dew.”
Today’s Reading Zechariah 7:11-14; 8:11-12 Reflection How does it change your prayers to know that God is waiting to bless you? What should be your response when he is silent?
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The best-selling Left Behind series has captured the attention of millions of readers, and it has changed lives. It has brought millions of believers the motivation to examine their hearts. Are you ready to embrace eternity? Live each moment as if it could be your last? Your future is more important than your past. Where you are going matters more than where you have been. What you do from this day forward means much more than what you have already done. You may be affected by your past, but you are not defined by it. Not in the eyes of God. What does it mean to embrace eternity? It means grasping each breath as if it could be your last, living life moment by precious moment with your feet planted firmly on earth but your heart aimed squarely at heaven. It means learning to embrace the role of dual citizenship—living in one world while belonging to another. It is a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow and then dying so that your real life can finally begin! This 365-day devotional explores the themes introduced in the Left Behind series—themes of salvation, grace, obedience, and faith. New believers as well as mature believers will find a message of faith that will inspire and motivate daily.
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