Ezekiel 34:26 I will turn them and the regions around my hill into a blessing. I will make showers come down in their season; they will be showers that bring blessing.

Ezekiel 34:30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they are my people, the house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.

I really enjoy reading this chapter in Ezekiel. It shows God, in all His power, taking it upon Himself to go, find and rescue His own sheep, His people. It paints a creative picture of sheep who technically belong in the fold. However, because of negligence on the part of shepherds that have been put into place to care for the sheep, the sheep have wandered away. But this is not okay with God- He desperately wants to maintain relationship with each of His children.

And so, the chapter goes on to point out how God will care for and provide for His people. He will send “showers of blessing.” And the part that really stuck out to me is found in verse 30: “Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them…” God’s heart is to bless His people; He wants them to be blessed and to know that it comes from our Heavenly Father because He is good.

There are other passages throughout the Bible, as well, that show when a person or nation chooses active rebellion or passive indifference against God, they receive justice from God. This is simply so that they would get the clear picture that there is one God, and they are not Him.

So the bottom line is God wants us to make good choices that result in blessing. And if we have wandered away from Him, He will actively pursue us until we can once again walk in the abundant life that He can offer us.
God wants us to know that His character is good. We do not “know” He is God because He alone says it or simply because nature displays His majesty. In and of itself, that should be enough proof. However, God wants to prove His love to you through His power to find you and to bring you into a place of blessing.

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Dear God, thank you for passionately pursuing me. Thank you for the showers of blessing that You have in store for me. Today I choose to give you glory & honor because of who You are! Amen.

Ezekiel 18:32 “I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live.”

Ezekiel has been sent with a message from God to wayward Israel. God’s only agenda for His people is blessing and life. And yet it seems no matter how much encouragement and incentive He gives them to make good choices they have a propensity to fall back into rebellion and immorality.

As a mother, I can relate. I feel that no matter how hard I try to steer this ship, this home, in one direction it is constantly fighting to go the other way. I’m going right, everyone else is going left.

So what does God do in this situation?

He draws a line in the sand, so to speak. He says, “from this moment on, choose life. Turn from your sins! Don’t let them destroy you! Put all your rebellion behind you and get for yourselves a new heart & a new spirit” (Ez. 18:30-31)

In the same way, I need to offer my kids a fresh start and a new beginning. But also I need to accept that same grace. God is telling me “the past is passed.” Starting now, put on a trusting heart and a contrite spirit. Accept mercy, and grace, and give it just as generously.

Dear Lord, Help me to walk in these truths today. Give me your strength to be faithful. I need You. Amen. :)

here’s a bit of a devotional to help start your week- enjoy!

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