overtaken

The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.

Zechariah 1:2-6

Return to me...and I will return to you. 

The constant invitation.

LORD, you are long-suffering, merciful, gracious. You wait...for our salvation. Thank you, Creator God. You want me, and I feel loved. And I know your love for me is for the sake of Your Name, not because of who I am. In that I do not feel less, but more--more secure. Because your plan is so much bigger than me. And I find myself getting in "order", getting the eternal perspective that is the true reality. 

I meditate on one of my morning verses, to find peace and rest in the truth of who you are and that you work for your world. 

O LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice;
in the morning I will order myself before you
and eagerly watch.

Psalm 5:3

I love this text at the beginning of Zechariah. Once again your people have been stubborn and stiff-necked, not paying attention to you. Here you say that you overtook them through the words of prophets. That is not a way we usually think of you working in our lives: that you OVERTAKE us. But it is an evidence of your sovereignty and providence. It is part of who you are that we must learn to recognize and to which we must submit.

I have felt overtaken. Many times. I used to go right into the questioning mode. Why is this happening? What does it mean? And later, as I got to know you more, I began to learn to listen instead of question. Often even in asking, what does it mean, we aren't really asking to hear an answer. We are whining and wanting it to go away. 

O LORD, thank you for overtaking me. Many times. Thank you. Often it hurts, it's confusing, and it seems like I can't find my way to rest. But every time you show yourself faithful. And I know deeper peace and contentment than before. Sometimes there is sin. And sometimes it is your discipline, not as punishment, but as training. In either circumstance, I walk away stronger and more prepared. In Jesus Name.