I started reading the book of Ezra. I love how the Lord so masterfully orchestrates everything and uses people through strategic interventions. The book of Ezra started out with an amazing orchestration.

I like to think of Ephesians 1:11 and how the Lord works everything according to the counsel of His will. Follow along with me. Cyrus was the king of Persia. Read his words. Ezra 1:1 says, “…that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…”

What was the word? Jeremiah 29:10 says, “For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.”

Wow 70 years! When it was time, the Lord moved all the players into place. In Jeremiah 1:11 the Lord asked Jeremiah what he saw. Verse 12 says, “Then the Lord said to me, You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”

We know from Isaiah 55:11 that God’s word will never return to Him void. Think about what this means. A pagan king was commanded by God to join Him in His work to rebuild the temple 70 years later!

Ezra 1:2 says, “…All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.” Then he invited those who wanted to go. He instructed his people to help them with silver, gold, goods, and livestock.

People began to engage in what God was doing. Verse 3 says, “…with all those whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.”

The Lord stirred up the hearts of the people He wanted to get involved. He did the same in Haggai. The folks had gotten lax. They believed the lies of the enemy. Haggai has only two chapters. Chapter one is packed with instructions for us.

In my own recent experience, the Lord stirred my heart to sell my mobile. Honestly, when I moved there in December 2016, I thought I would live and die there. However, the Lord has opened a new mission for me. Though He stirred my heart, it took 58 days before I knew where He wanted me to move to. Until then, there were only closed doors.

He instructed me to memorize and meditate on Psalm 71:1. It became my breath. It says, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust,; never let me be put to shame.” He marvelously orchestrated it all through a split second timing one morning. 

I encourage you to enact Habakkuk 2:1. It says, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me…” The Lord is always at work in our lives. We need to be attentive so that we can be led by the Holy Spirit to join Him in the work He has preordained for us to walk in.