… the hand of the Lord … was upon Ezra … (Ezra 7:9, 28; 8:18, 31)
The hand of God brings strength, protection, favor, open doors, anointed ministry, success.
Do you need the hand of God on your life?
What was Ezra’s secret?
Ezra’s dependance was on God. He needed favor with an earthy king to do God’s work.
Ezra knew that it all began with the heart … his heart!
He aimed for the heart …
He prepared his heart to:
- Seek and study the Word
- Obey the Word
- Share and teach the Word (Ezra 7:10)
Do you want the anointing of God’s hand upon your life?
It all begins in your heart.
Ezra understood that God worked in his heart.
He understood that God turns the heart — both his own and the hearts of others.
Ezra trusted God to turn the king’s heart to give him favor. The king gave Ezra his request. Why? Ezra says the king did exactly as Ezra requested, and even more “according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.” (Ezra 7:6, 27)
Ezra needed favor with the king and when God opened the door, Ezra did not give the credit to his good luck but rather that God put such a thing into the heart of the king. (Ezra 7:27)
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1
The reason Ezra had success was that the hand of the Lord was upon him.
Ezra took time to seek God, he prepared his heart!
How about you?
- Have you taken time today to prepare your heart?
- Are you depending on God?
- Do you believe God can turn hearts – even yours?
- Are you aiming your prayers toward the hearts of others, asking God to soften their hearts?
Take time today … prepare your heart.
… cultivate a soft heart toward God through …
- PRAYER
- READING GOD’s WORD
- OBEDIENCE
Keep a HEART JOURNAL … I do!