S) "12 'And I will strengthen them in the Lord,
And in His name they will walk,' declares the Lord."
Zechariah 10:12 (NASB)
O) This entire chapter is about the gracious compassion of the LORD, restoring His people. He makes it clear, throughout the chapter, that this is about His grace, and not because the people have somehow earned His favor. In verse 2, God declares that the leadership has gone horribly wrong, but throughout the chapter He says that He will provide, lead, strengthen, gather, protect, and redeem His people. This verse shows us the root of that reconciliation. There is a strengthening that will happen, an inner changing, so that the people will follow Him. That comes from His will, His doing, within His people.
A) The loving, eyes-opened, heart-softened response to grace, is repentance and a desire for change toward more obedience (see Romans 2:4). This verse is a reminder that my ability to obey, my ability to even recognize my need for Him, is all based on the grace of His will. So, I ask the LORD for this kind of change to continue within my own life. When we taste and see that the LORD is good, it creates in us a desire for continued fellowship with Him. As I desire to walk in His name, in more obedience and faithfulness, I ask for Him to strengthen me each day to that end, to the glory of His name.
P) Father, it is only because You are gracious, that I am called by Your name. You strengthened me from the start, that I could ever follow You in the first place. My desire is to be more like Your Son, to be faithful and obedient in all things. I know that it depends fully on the strength You give me. Thank You for the grace You have already shown me. Let me glorify Your name, by the way I walk out my life in the name of the LORD, according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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