I don’t usually get very excited about those chapters in the Bible that contain lists of names. In Ezra 2, we find a list of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem. What is significant about this list is that they are the ones who responded in obedience when God moved in their hearts (Ezra 1:5). May we, too, be on God’s list today of those who obey His promptings.

The Israelites languished in captivity until the day when God moved the heart of their captor king, the mighty King Cyrus of Persia (Ezra 1). At the Lord’s prompting, Cyrus proclaimed that the Israelites could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Not only did God move the king’s heart, he also stirred the hearts of some of the Jews to seize this amazing opportunity.

As a part of God moving his heart, Cyrus instructed the neighbours of those returning to Jerusalem to provide them with silver, gold, goods and livestock. Pretty sweet! However, Cyrus wasn’t finished yet. He also brought out items that a previous king had taken from the temple and gave them to the temple-building entourage.

Through His movement in peoples’ hearts, God opened up a way for the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

I am so glad that God stirs us and others to action. I am excited about how God might move in my heart and the hearts of those around me today.

Lord, help me to hear your voice. Grant me the courage to act on your nudges. Thank you that when you bring us to something, you will also bring us through it. My life is yours. Amen.

Henry Cloud in his book, Necessary Endings, uses the analogy of pruning a rose bush as a way to show the importance of giving up activities and relationships in order to move forward. He describes three types of pruning.

The first type of pruning is to remove healthy buds. Because a rose bush produces more buds than it can sustain, it is important to prune some so that the bush will thrive. The excess of good buds could ultimately rob the bush of maximum health and production. As I have reflected on this type of pruning in recent weeks, I have identified two areas of involvement that I need to prune so that I can devote more energy to the other commitments in my life. I can become so immersed in doing many good things that I miss out on some of the best things that God has for me (or cannot give them the time and energy they deserve).

The second type of pruning is to remove branches that are sick or diseased. These branches will not recover and will continue to draw energy away from healthy branches until they are removed. What are the dysfunctional, unproductive areas in our lives that are siphoning off resources and keeping us from blooming in a maximum way?

The third type of pruning involves taking away dead branches. Their presence takes up space that hinders the growth of other branches.

Pruning is a necessary process for promoting health and vitality in the plant world and in our lives, as well. Cloud goes on to say (p. 13):

“Endings are a part of every aspect of life. When done well, the seasons of life are negotiated, and the proper endings lead to the end of pain, greater growth, personal and business goals reached, and better lives. Endings bring hope.

When done poorly, bad outcomes happen, good opportunities are lost, and misery either remains or is repeated. So let’s get empowered to choose the necessary endings, execute them well, and get to the better results we all desire.”

Amen!

Cloud, H. (2010). Necessary Endings. New York: Harper Business.