Heavenly Father, thank You that Ezra faithfully recorded the return of the Babylonian exiles to Israel, and the joy they discovered in honouring Your name and fulfilling Your will for their lives. I am eagerly awaiting that day when Jesus will return, in power and great glory, to set up His eternal kingdom and dwell with His people on earth. Thank You that the feasts and festivals given to Israel, paint such beautiful pictures of Your unfolding plan of redemption. I pray that I may worship You in spirit and truth, for Your greater glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many lessons I can learn from the history of Israel, from both their failures when they doubted Your Word, to their successes when they trusted Your promises. Help me to grow in grace and mature in the faith, and keep me from allowing the circumstance of life to affect my faith in You. Thank You that You are always in control and that You are a faithful God Who keeps His promises. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning, and I pray that You would use me in the furtherance of the gospel for Your greater praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You that You are a good and faithful God, Who keeps His promises to both Israel and the Church. Thank You for the example of the priests and people in Ezra's day, who laid the foundation of the Temple of God, and blew their trumpets and sounded their cymbals to praise and honour Your holy name. Thank You that in this dispensation of grace, I am a living stone in Your spiritual Temple. Thank You that I have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide in all things. I pray that I would never cease to honour Your name in thought, word, and deed, and to praise You day and night, for You alone are worthy. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.