If Ezra 4 tells us anything, it’s that it’s ALWAYS when you get to the most critical work of your God-spoken, Spirit-stirred calling that trouble comes calling. And Satan won’t quit until he tears it all back down to rubble.
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Keep your wings up. Satan can try to convince you it’s all useless, but remember Isaiah 55:10-11. God’s purpose will always be accomplished.

Wings up, buttercup.

I honestly believe that Ezra 3:11-13 is one of the most misunderstood Bible passages. People seem to get almost offended at the mention of grief in this passage like there couldn’t possibly be any HINT of sadness when something so spiritually profound is happening.
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But I’m here to tell you: it’s possible to feel the weight of both at the same time.
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You can grieve the loss of what once was or what could have been. And you can also be absolutely jaw-dropped at the glimpses of God’s glory and the hope of His Jeremiah 29:11 future for you.
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Lament and sorrow can hold hands with elation and hope because God holds it all, sees it all, and feels it all with you.

It’s all commingled equally. One is not louder than the other, one no more prominent. One does not negate the other, one not any less important.

There’s a place for BOTH grief and joy all at the same time.

I learned a new definition of prayer the other day (from Psalm 109:4) that I’ve never heard of before, and it’s the purest visual picture of intercession that I never knew I needed.