20 The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 “ ‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” – Haggai 2:20-23 (NIV)
Today as we conclude with this devotional, we find Haggai sharing the Lord’s message to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel. It’s a message of assurance that God still has everything in His hands and is in complete control. It’s a message of hope that what the Lord has in store for the future will change the world and bring freedom. It’s a message of promise that the word of the Lord will never fail, and His faithfulness endures forever.
So, as we end our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, what message might the Lord be wanting us to hear? As we move forward personally and corporately, what could it be that God is wanting to communicate to us as we seek to be His holy people on mission with Him?
Maybe it’s that He, and He alone does the shaking. We don’t and can’t manufacture a mighty movement of the Lord our God. Not with our strength, not with our planning, not with our creativity, not with our financial resources, not with our religious practices, and certainly not with our best performances. The only One that can move heaven and earth is the Creator of heaven and earth. The only One who can overthrow earthly kingdoms is the One who ushers in an eternal Kingdom. The only One who can grant true freedom is the One who conquered sin and death.
Maybe it’s that He will raise up and use men and women to accomplish His purposes in spite of their past failings. That even when your family legacy is one of disobedience to the Lord, He will shower His grace and mercy upon those who are truly repentant. That what He’s calling you to today has a significance greater than you could imagine and has eternal ramifications. That He desires to elevate you – not to be seen or put on a pedestal – but so that others would be able to look to you as you point them to Jesus. That He raises you above the muck and the mire so that you might humbly tell others what He has done and invite them to experience the same.
Or maybe it’s that our holy, consecrated lives should leave a mark on the people around us, this world in which we live, and on the legacy we leave behind that boldly and clearly communicates who the Lord our God is. That when people look at your example, they don’t just see Divine favor, but they see a life that’s under complete authority of the King of all kings. That they would see an ambassador of Christ who represents Him with honor and integrity in everything they do.
Just maybe this is the Lord’s way of reminding us once more that He’s the ultimate authority, that He’s always in control, and the best is yet to come!