Stirred Up

“So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God.” Haggai 1:14

I, here and now, confess a character flaw in myself: I struggle to finish projects that I have begun. This habit began in childhood, when I never wanted to continue in clubs or groups I joined, or lessons I had begun. My parents forced me to continue with certain things that I started, but others dropped by the wayside. They probably figured some things just weren’t worth the drama of my protests.

I have overcome this tendency to a point. I never leave the dishes half done, never leave the drawer half cleaned out, never leave my day job for someone else to finish. But the big stuff, the hard stuff that takes months or years to finish—that is more difficult for me. I suppose I just lose interest after awhile.

God knows this about me. He first stirs up my spirit to do some aspect of ministry, and I begin. I move like gangbusters for awhile. I am happy with my efforts. I look forward to completion. But completion takes a long, long time.

I get new ideas that I’m excited about. I think, maybe I could finish one while starting the next. But that doesn’t work out either. I make a schedule: work mornings on this project, afternoons on that project. After working awhile, I need to stretch my legs, so I go out to do “a little something” in the garden, which leads to one thing and then another. Then a friend invites me out for coffee. I hear birds twittering at the feeder outside the window, and I must go see which birds came today.

Distractions.

 I need the Spirit of God to stir me up again. I have allowed “life” to take center stage. Oh, of course sometimes it is right and good to do all the side stuff. But I must come back to what God has called me to do. I must make the most important thing, the most important thing. It might be praying for someone. Or meeting a desperate need in someone. Or writing that encouragement to someone. Or it might be the really big, hard, long, worthy project.

When God wanted His temple rebuilt, He stirred up the spirits of those who could make it happen, and they got it done. He didn’t allow excuses, such as, “This isn’t turning out like we thought it would.” He wouldn’t listen to all the times they said, “I’d sure rather be comfy in my own home.”

He simply said to get back to work, for He was with them.

Lord, I hear Your words to me, to all of us, in today’s Scripture. Stir us up again and again until the work is done. Forgive us for laziness, or for allowing our eyes to fall on the distractions. We desire to do what You’ve called us to do, but we need Your help. Amen.