2 Chronicles 2:20 – “Believe God and be established; believe the prophets and prosper or succeed.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God, a reality captured my consciousness. In Ezra 6:14, we read, “And the exiles of the Jews did the work, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo…”

What was the reality that caused me to take note?  “They Prospered through Prophecy.”    If you remember, that is what Jehoshaphat said in 2 Chronicles 20:20 – “Believe God and be established; believe the prophets and prosper or succeed.”

In the Old Testament, they did nothing without a Word from God.   In the New Testament, they sought God but did not act until the Holy Spirit spoke.   Today, we don’t always pray, and too frequently, we don’t wait for a Word from the Holy Spirit.

Their cry was, ‘God, what do you want?’   Then they did that.   We make our plans, act, react, and pray, “God bless our plans.”  We then fret because of our lack of success and peace.

Walking in the Will of God is the pathway to success.   I fear we do not appreciate the need for a Word from God before we begin something.   We may quote Hebrews 13:8, that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but our actions often relegate that to a mythological status or theoretical concept.

If Old Testament Israel and the New Testament believers needed and sought a Word from God before they acted, what makes us think we do not need the same guidance?

We want God to bless our plans.  We lament when our plans fail to yield the success or peace we desire. If we want God’s blessings on our labors, we need God’s plan, timing, and process. “Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in Heaven.”   His Word does not fail.  The church has lost the prophetic voice because we do not value a Word from God as the Old and New Testament believers did.  

Jesus, our example, said, “I only do what I see My Father doing, and I only say what I heard My Father saying.” Are we better than Jesus?   We need a Word from God today! He speaks through His Word, His Spirit, and through the prophetic.

A problem has been that the self-proclaimed prophets have given flesh words, not words from Heaven.   The false has stolen the importance of the real. We need a Word from God Daily!   God is the speaking God. We are not always a listening people.

May the rich and bountiful blessing of the LORD flow to you and through you today!