God's Plan for Your House Is Greater Than Yours: Giving Glory to God for NOT Giving You Your Way...

The other day things were not going the way that our little lady wanted them to. First of all, it was quite the upset when I would not allow her to eat the leaves she had picked from the tree. It was crocodile tear level devastation!! Then something else frustrated her to the point of almost throwing herself off of my lap. Thank goodness I had my hand on her back!! She never knew how much danger she was in, but she really could have been hurt! Immediately, I started thinking of the fits I throw in my heart because things do not go my way, but even more the patience and protection of God while I do...

Every morning after my precious, hardworking Harley leaves this sweet girl with me, we have a little routine. We sing a little song and dance a little dance about how it is Memaw and Ember time. Then we read and sing and talk about what is on the three pictures in our foyer. I know it will take time but I know eventually these words and songs will be written on her heart. As she matures we will be able to do more than memorize, but talk about what they -- particularly Haggai -- actually mean in the context of Scripture and what they mean in the history of our home.

To me, the tiny book of Haggai is one of the sweetest little nuggets in all of Scripture. The Lord gave me Haggai 2:9 during one of the hardest times in our lives. I knew He was speaking that promise into our home. For me to fully understood what God was telling me, though, it was important for me to understand the whole book.

God brought the Jews in exile back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, but the people were frustrated and overwhelmed -- or even possibly underwhelmed -- because what they were building would not be to the size and grandeur of Soloman's temple. So, instead they allowed themselves to give their focus to building their own beautiful homes, ultimately becoming disobedient to God and His plan. The prophet Haggai was there to tell help them resituate their priorities and return to honoring the will and plan of God.

““Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now, the Lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways: You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.” The Lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house; and I will be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?” This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. “Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.” ‭‭Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭

It is easy to look at the pattern of the Israelites and think that they were all so immature. How could they have such close access to the voice of God, giving them step by step instruction yet still get it so wrong?! However, isn't this the same exact pattern that modern-day Christians display all of the time?! I think back to my precious girl who has been given everything she needs to thrive (direction, provision, and protection) (2 Pet 1:3-11; Eph 1:3) yet in her naivety and fallen humanity, she is heart broken when her desires are thwarted.

It will take time for her to hear and respond appropriately -- just like the Israelites. However, when they turned their hearts to listen to the Lord and His promise, they were compelled to set aside their definition of good, turn from their selfishness, and follow Him...

“For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies. “The silver and gold belong to me” — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies. “The final glory of this house will be greater than the first,” says the Lord of Armies. “I will provide peace in this place”  — this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.” Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭

Throughout all of time, God has shown His unwavering faithfulness to His plan because it is perfect. We mistake our disappointments as God not being fair or even Him being cruel, when all the while, He is full of mercy and compassion, protecting us from ourselves (Ps 119:17).

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What is it in your life that has grabbed your attention and pulled you away from what God has asked you to join Him in doing in the world around you? How is God leading you to return to His plan today? How has He protected you and shown you His generous patience while you have attempted to gather material gain and false glories of this fallen world?

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I'm watching our pretty girl learn to sing new songs. She definitely digs a long session with "Wheels on the Bus," but it is quite lovely to watch her little spirit shift, and her adorable little body begin to softly sway when a song about the glory of God fills the air. I know with all my heart that this is what our gracious God continues to do for me...He offers me the song of His heart and gives me all of the instruction and resource necessary to return to Him, bringing full glory to Him and His perfect will and plan!

"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3

Practical Application from Gotquestions.org

"The Book of Haggai draws attention to common problems most people face even today. Haggai asks us 1) to examine our priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures than doing the work of God; 2) to reject a defeatist attitude when we run into opposition or discouraging circumstances; 3) to confess our failures and seek to live pure lives before God; 4) to act courageously for God because we have the assurance that He is with us always and is in full control of our circumstances; and 5) to rest secure in God’s hands knowing that He will abundantly bless us as we faithfully serve Him."