March 9, 2025 - Zechariah‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9

“For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me.”” Zechariah 2:8-9 ESV

Lord, we praise you that you are our defender, and we are your prize possession. What a miraculous thing. We can look at ourselves and see all the things that are wrong. We see our shortcomings and all the reasons we don’t deserve your love. It can be hard to see ourselves as the apple of your eye. Oh, how we thank you for your love, your mercy, and your grace. The way you cherish us might be difficult for us to understand, but it is the truth. You see us, all of us, and you still fully love us. There is nothing that happens to us that you didn’t see. We see in this verse, that you allowed nations to plunder your chosen people, but that doesn’t last forever. No, you come to a place when you say, “Enough!” Then they become the ones who are getting plundered by your people.

Lord, help us learn to see ourselves as you see us. Grow our understanding of your love. Help us grasp how much you love us and cherish us. We want to be able to stand on that truth and trust you even when our circumstances are such that they would cause us to question you. Help us always answer that question with the sound knowledge that you are for us and have not forsaken us. Help us stand in our faith and love for you, until the day when we see you change our circumstances. Let us keep our eyes set on you. Let us press our roots deeper in you in the dry season so that those seasons allow us to grow and be strengthened. Let your praise always be on our lips. All glory be to your name!

In Jesus name, amen.