January 30, 2026

Let’s Finish This!

I have been feeling strongly that for today’s post, I need to warn against distraction. There is so much news about violence, unrest, and other serious issues here and abroad that it is easy to become overwhelmed. This can produce various negative responses, including stress, weariness of heart, wavering in faith, and more. I want to encourage you to remain focused on the Lord and what HE is saying.

As the book of Ezra opens, Cyrus, king of Persia, allows a remnant of Israelites to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding their Temple. Seventy years prior, because of their rejection of Him, God had allowed the Temple to be destroyed, and Israel to be taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Later, they came under Cyrus’s rule after he conquered Babylon. God then moved upon the heart of Cyrus, a pagan and idolatrous king, to permit this return. He even stirred Cyrus’ heart to help the remnant raise the needed funds for rebuilding (Ezra 1:1-4), and returned to them all the vessels and utensils Nebuchadnezzar had plundered from the Temple. This was amazing!

A remnant returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel’s leadership and began the work. Ezra tells us: 

“When the workers laid the foundation of The Temple of God, the priests in their robes stood up with trumpets, and the Levites, sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise God in the tradition of David…All the people boomed out hurrahs, praising God as the foundation of The Temple of God was laid. As many were noisily shouting with joy, many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first Temple, when they saw the foundations of this Temple laid, wept loudly… People couldn’t distinguish the shouting from the weeping. The sound of their voices reverberated for miles around.” (Ezra 3:10-13 MSG)

It has always intrigued me that many younger Israelites shouted for joy while some of the older ones wept. We are left to wonder why the older folks wept. Joy? Grieving lost years? Realizing just how far they had to go? One thing is certain: their perspective was different.

There is one more certainty about the celebration that took place that day: it was a bit premature. Satan, too, had plans for the project. Daniel 7:25 tells us he attempts to alter “times and laws.” The Hebrew word used for “time” in this verse means an appointed time;(1) the word for “laws” means, among other things, the decree of a king.(2) God, our King, appoints our times and seasons; He also decrees His good plans and purposes for us, both in His written Word and prophetically. However, this verse tells us satan tries to alter those times and decrees. We know he can’t do so by overpowering or outwitting God; he attempts to do so by attacking us.

Daniel 7:25 also reveals one of the ways satan tries to do so: by “wearing down” the saints. It is very revealing that the Hebrew word this is taken from is never used in Scripture to describe physical fatigue, only mental and emotional weariness. Satan attempts to wear us down in our souls - our minds and emotions - causing us to “grow weary” (literally: “lose heart”) in our efforts (Galatians 6:9). Fear, discouragement, confusion, lack of endurance, hope-deferred, and other emotional responses attack our faith and, if not guarded against, can cause us to lose heart. If this weariness sets in, it can disrupt our God-appointed times. This time-altering strategy worked against the remnant sent to rebuild the Temple of God.

Satan’s method in that situation was to work through other people in the region: 

“So these people started beating down the morale of the people of Judah, harassing them as they built. They even hired propagandists to sap their resolve. They kept this up for about fifteen years, throughout the lifetime of Cyrus, king of Persia, and on into the reign of Darius, king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:4-5 MSG)

These “propagandists,” or “counselors,” as other translations refer to them, were basically lobbyists, individuals hired and sent to the king with accusations and misinformation. They succeeded in planting in him the concern that, once the Israelites rebuilt their temple, they would rebel against his rule and cause great problems in his kingdom. The Israelites, rather than remaining strong and trusting God to help them overcome this, yielded to fear and discouragement. The result? The rebuilding of the temple stopped for 16 years! All they had produced was a foundation.

During this time, though abandoning God’s house, the Israelites began rebuilding their own homes and businesses, justifying this by saying it must not yet be God’s appointed time for the Temple to be rebuilt. Opposition, however, should never be allowed to determine what we believe to be God’s will. Nor should this be something used to judge whether or not it is His appointed time for something.

Eventually, God raised up a prophet, Haggai, to deliver His message to them:

“God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: ‘The people procrastinate. They say this isn't the right time to rebuild My Temple, the Temple of God.’

“Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: ‘How is it that it's the "right time" for you to live in your fine new homes while Mine is in ruins?...’

“Then the governor, Zerubbabel, Joshua the high priest, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God. When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored God. Then Haggai, God’s messenger, preached God’s message to the people: 'I am with you!’” (Haggai 1:1-14 MSG)

Notice that when the people responded appropriately to God’s Words, He was quick to respond with grace and favor. Turns out it wasn’t those who opposed God that were His problem; He was well able to deal with them. His people were the problem! What God needed was a people of faith who would not succumb to fear, discouragement, or other distractions. When they were able to shake off these things, God favored them once again and said, I am with you! Let’s go!

A month later, Haggai encouraged them by prophesying again, 

“Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back…Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth, and I will fill this Temple with splendor...I own the silver, I own the gold…This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’” (Haggai 2:1-9 MSG)

Like this remnant in Israel, many in the church of America have grown weary in their prayers for revival and the rebuilding of our nation. Lobbyists, media opposition, unrighteous laws, intimidating government agencies, elections that didn’t go our way, ungodly politicians, riots - satan has used these and more, attempting to wear us down mentally and emotionally. Some have responded just as these Israelites, deciding it must not be time for America’s turnaround. Yet many have not!

God now needs us to persevere in our faith and prayers. We must not allow satan to alter America’s appointed times and God’s promised recovery by wearing us down or distracting us. Don’t be intimidated. God can deal with His enemies, just as He did in Haggai’s day. Determine that nothing will stop us – wars, violence, threats, fear, discouragement, setbacks, unbelief – nothing.

Let’s finish this!

Pray with me:

Father, You have begun a good work in our nation. You’ve raised up a remnant of people determined to birth revival, and see America accomplish all You have destined for her. We are determined to see righteousness in our government once again, determined to see the young generation of Americans come to know You, and determined to see worldwide revival - at least a billion souls.

We will not stop with only a foundation. We will not yield to opposition, fear, confusion, unbelief, discouragement, or selfishness. We will finish this! We WILL finish this! Raise up Haggais in our day to speak Your words. Stir the hearts of Your people. We ask for an infusion of strength and hope. We ask that any and all mental fatigue and emotional weariness be broken off of the praying church, the remnant. Send a wind of Holy Spirit to us now, we pray. Stir up hearts that once burned with fire for revival and breakthrough, but have now settled for less. Stir up the hearts of pastors who have chosen to settle for less than the fires of revival. Stir up intercessors who have allowed the fire to go out. Awaken us all to Your passion in this hour. May there be a roar of intercession that is released in this nation and the nations of the earth. We ask You, “Rend the heavens and come down!”

We make these requests in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Our decree:

God is with us; we will arise and build!

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Today’s post was taken from our devotion, Give Him 15, An Appeal to Heaven, Volume 2.

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1. “Strong’s Hebrew: 2165. זְמָן (zeman) -- appointed time, occasion, season; time.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2165.htm. Accessed 12 May 2023.

2. “Strong’s Hebrew: 1882. דָּת (dath) -- decree, law.” Bible Hub, https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1882.htm. Accessed 12 May 2023.