Evening Scripture

Haggai 2
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’”

The priests answered, “No.”

Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”

Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.

“‘Now give careful thought to this from this day on—consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the Lord’s temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord. ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.

“‘From this day on I will bless you.’”

The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

“‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Evening Reflection

As your day comes to a close, I want to invite you to take a long inhale and exhale, and hand over all that you have been carrying today. It seems that when our feet hit the floor each day, we pick up a load that we may not be asked to carry. We buy into the idea that there is much to do that depends solely on our abilities and that if we dare miss a thing, the whole day, week, or month will crumble. Praise God, through the promises of His Word, we can see that He does not ask us to carry anything but our faithfulness to Him. It does not matter how small you feel in the eyes of God; he looks at you with delight and created you with his plans and purposes in mind.

In Haggai 2, we see God encouraging Zerubbabel's heart through the Spirit. Not only does he send encouragement through the prophet, but God stirs his heart, bringing clarity and direction to the plans He wants Zerubbabel to carry out. If you take the time to sit with the Holy Spirit, you, too, can have this sense of direction and peace. Because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Freedom to rest in the assurance of what God is doing and the freedom to trust in the way you should go.

Haggai 2 calls us to look to God rather than scurry around, weighed down, trying to manage everything in our own strength. It reminds us to focus on who we are, God’s chosen, and that we serve a God who has the best things in mind with the perfect way to carry out the details. He will encourage you through his Word and with the words of other believers. Trust in the heart of the Father and rest in the truth that He created you with great things in mind, which He will carry out through your faithfulness.

Evening Prayer

Father,
As I drift off to sleep tonight, remind me that You hold all the plans in Your hands. You know every detail and the way they all need to come together. Help free me from feeling “small” in your eyes and encourage my heart that you desire to use me for your glory.
When I wake up in the morning, stir my Spirit to rest in your rather than pick up all the things I think I have to do on my own. Remove the need to do everything “perfectly” and teach me that faithfulness to you is all you desire from me.
I pray to see Your encouragement in Your written word and in the body of believers this week. Keep my eyes on you, my feet walking your path, and my Spirit tethered to Yours. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Want More?

If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Evening Scripture
Haggai 2 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:&nbsp;&ldquo;Speak to Zerubbabel&nbsp;son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,&nbsp;the high priest, and to the remnant&nbsp;of the people. Ask them,&nbsp;&lsquo;Who of you is left who saw this house&nbsp;in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?&nbsp;But now be strong, Zerubbabel,&rsquo; declares the&nbsp;Lord. &lsquo;Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,&rsquo; declares the Lord, &lsquo;and work. For I am with you,&rsquo; declares the Lord Almighty.&nbsp;&lsquo;This is what I covenanted&nbsp;with you when you came out of Egypt.&nbsp;And my Spirit&nbsp;remains among you. Do not fear.&rsquo;
&ldquo;This is what the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty says: &lsquo;In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.&nbsp;I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,&rsquo; says the&nbsp;Lord Almighty.&nbsp;&lsquo;The silver is mine and the gold is mine,&rsquo; declares the&nbsp;Lord Almighty.&nbsp;&lsquo;The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,&rsquo; says the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty. &lsquo;And in this place I will grant peace,&rsquo; declares the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;Almighty.&rdquo;
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai:&nbsp;&ldquo;This is what the&nbsp;Lord Almighty says: &lsquo;Ask the priests what the law says:&nbsp;If someone carries consecrated meat&nbsp;in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?&rsquo;&rdquo;
The priests answered, &ldquo;No.&rdquo;
Then Haggai said, &ldquo;If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; the priests replied, &ldquo;it becomes defiled.&rdquo;
Then Haggai said, &ldquo;&lsquo;So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,&rsquo; declares the&nbsp;Lord. &lsquo;Whatever they do and whatever they offer&nbsp;there is defiled.
&ldquo;&lsquo;Now give careful thought to this from this day on&mdash;consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the&nbsp;Lord&rsquo;s temple.&nbsp;When anyone came to a heap&nbsp;of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat&nbsp;to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.&nbsp;I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,&rsquo; declares the&nbsp;Lord.&nbsp;&lsquo;From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the&nbsp;Lord&rsquo;s temple was laid. Give careful thought:&nbsp;Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate&nbsp;and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
&ldquo;&lsquo;From this day on I will bless&nbsp;you.&rsquo;&rdquo;
The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:&nbsp;&ldquo;Tell Zerubbabel&nbsp;governor of Judah that I am going to shake&nbsp;the heavens and the earth.&nbsp;I will overturn&nbsp;royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.&nbsp;I will overthrow chariots&nbsp;and their drivers; horses and their riders&nbsp;will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
&ldquo;&lsquo;On that day,&rsquo; declares the Lord Almighty, &lsquo;I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,&rsquo; declares the Lord, &lsquo;and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,&rsquo; declares the Lord Almighty.&rdquo;
Evening Reflection
As your day comes to a close, I want to invite you to take a long inhale and exhale, and hand over all that you have been carrying today. It seems that when our feet hit the floor each day, we pick up a load that we may not be asked to carry. We buy into the idea that there is much to do that depends solely on our abilities and that if we dare miss a thing, the whole day, week, or month will crumble. Praise God, through the promises of His Word, we can see that He does not ask us to carry anything but our faithfulness to Him. It does not matter how small you feel in the eyes of God; he looks at you with delight and created you with his plans and purposes in mind.
In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/haggai/2.html">Haggai 2</a>, we see God encouraging Zerubbabel's heart through the Spirit. Not only does he send encouragement through the prophet, but God stirs his heart, bringing clarity and direction to the plans He wants Zerubbabel to carry out. If you take the time to sit with the Holy Spirit, you, too, can have this sense of direction and peace. Because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Freedom to rest in the assurance of what God is doing and the freedom to trust in the way you should go.
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/haggai/2.html">Haggai 2</a>&nbsp;calls us to look to God rather than scurry around, weighed down, trying to manage everything in our own strength. It reminds us to focus on who we are, God&rsquo;s chosen, and that we serve a God who has the best things in mind with the perfect way to carry out the details. He will encourage you through his Word and with the words of other believers. Trust in the heart of the Father and rest in the truth that He created you with great things in mind, which He will carry out through your faithfulness.
Evening Prayer
Father, As I drift off to sleep tonight, remind me that You hold all the plans in Your hands. You know every detail and the way they all need to come together. Help free me from feeling &ldquo;small&rdquo; in your eyes and encourage my heart that you desire to use me for your glory. When I wake up in the morning, stir my Spirit to rest in your rather than pick up all the things I think I have to do on my own. Remove the need to do everything &ldquo;perfectly&rdquo; and teach me that faithfulness to you is all you desire from me. I pray to see Your encouragement in Your written word and in the body of believers this week. Keep my eyes on you, my feet walking your path, and my Spirit tethered to Yours. In Jesus&rsquo; name, Amen.
Want More?
If tonight&rsquo;s episode blessed you, be sure to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962">follow the show</a> so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Nightly Scripture — 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture

Receiving God's Encouragement When I Feel Small (Haggai 2)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/f089d5ee-f478-4073-9250-b44f00daa646/transcript