Rebuilding Hearts: Prioritizing God's Presence in Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Consider Your Ways

God calls His people to pause and reflect on their priorities, urging them to examine whether their lives are centered on Him or distracted by personal pursuits. The Israelites, after returning from exile, spent sixteen years focusing on their own homes while the temple—the center of worship and relationship with God—remained in ruins. Despite their hard work, they found no lasting satisfaction or contentment, illustrating that true fulfillment comes only from putting God first. The Lord’s gentle challenge, “Consider your ways,” is not condemnation but an invitation to realign our hearts and lives with His purposes, reminding us that we were created for relationship with Him above all else. [42:14]

Haggai 1:5-9 (ESV)
Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where your priorities have drifted from God’s purposes? How can you intentionally realign that area with Him today?

Day 2: Seek First the Kingdom

Jesus teaches that our deepest needs are met not by anxious striving, but by seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else. When we focus on our own ambitions and worries, we end up feeling empty and unsatisfied, much like the Israelites did. But Jesus’ words echo the call of Haggai: when we put God first, everything else falls into its proper place. This is a daily invitation to trust that God knows our needs and will provide, freeing us from anxiety and drawing us into a life shaped by His presence and priorities. [45:29]

Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek God’s kingdom first in your schedule or decisions today?

Day 3: Fear Not—God Is With You

When discouragement and disappointment threaten to overwhelm, God’s word comes with reassurance: “Fear not, for I am with you.” The Israelites, after finally rebuilding the temple, felt disheartened by its lack of former glory, but God reminded them that His presence mattered more than outward appearances. Again and again throughout Scripture, God promises to be with His people, strengthening and upholding them no matter the circumstances. This truth invites us to lay down our fears and discouragements, trusting that God’s presence is our greatest treasure and source of courage. [54:20]

Haggai 2:4-5 (ESV)
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

Reflection: Where do you feel discouraged or afraid right now? How can you invite God’s presence into that place and trust Him to be with you?

Day 4: You Are God’s Temple

God’s desire is not just to dwell in buildings, but to make His home within His people. Through Christ, believers become the very temple of the Holy Spirit, carrying God’s presence wherever they go. This profound truth means that God is not distant or confined to a place, but intimately present in the lives of His children, empowering and guiding them daily. Recognizing that you are God’s temple invites you to honor Him in all you do and to live with the confidence that He is always with you, working through you for His glory. [56:10]

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.

Reflection: In what specific way can you honor God with your body and actions today, knowing that you are His temple?

Day 5: Comparison Steals Contentment

Comparing ourselves to others—or to our own past—often leads to disappointment and discouragement, blinding us to God’s presence and provision in the present. The Israelites mourned the new temple’s lack of splendor, forgetting that God’s promise and presence were what truly mattered. Likewise, when we measure our worth or success by what others have or what we used to be able to do, we miss the joy and peace found in trusting God’s unique work in our lives. God calls us to let go of comparison, to rest in His love, and to find contentment in His faithful presence. [58:00]

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Reflection: Is there an area where you’ve been comparing yourself to others or to your past? How can you choose contentment and gratitude for God’s presence and work in your life today?

Sermon Summary

The story of Haggai is a powerful reminder of God’s desire for His people to return to Him with their whole hearts. After years in Babylonian captivity, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, but for sixteen years, the temple—the very center of their worship and identity—remained in ruins while they focused on rebuilding their own homes and lives. God, through Haggai, calls them to “consider your ways,” not as a word of condemnation, but as a loving invitation to examine their priorities and rediscover the deep satisfaction that comes from putting Him first.

God’s message is clear: when we pour our energy into our own pursuits while neglecting our relationship with Him, we find ourselves unsatisfied, no matter how much we accomplish. The people had paneled houses, but their hearts were empty. God’s call to “consider your ways” is a call to realign our lives, to seek Him first, and to remember that true contentment and peace are found only in Him. Even Jesus echoed this in the Sermon on the Mount: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Our relationship with God is the foundation of everything else.

When the people finally responded and began rebuilding the temple, they quickly became discouraged. The new temple lacked the splendor of Solomon’s, and their efforts seemed small in comparison to the past. Yet God’s response was not disappointment, but encouragement: “Be strong…work, for I am with you…fear not.” God’s presence, not the outward appearance of our achievements, is what matters most. He reminds us that His Spirit remains with us, and that our value is not in what we build, but in our relationship with Him.

This is a word for all of us who feel discouraged or who find ourselves comparing our lives to others or to our own past. God’s promise is that He is with us, that He dwells within us, and that we are His temple. We are invited to let go of fear, to stop measuring ourselves by worldly standards, and to rest in the assurance that God’s presence is enough. Each day, we are called to consider our ways and to trust that, as we put Him first, He will provide, strengthen, and fill us with His peace.

Key Takeaways

1. Consider Your Ways: God’s call to “consider your ways” is not a rebuke, but an invitation to examine our priorities and motivations. When we focus on our own pursuits and neglect our relationship with God, we find ourselves restless and unsatisfied. True fulfillment comes when we put God at the center of our lives, allowing Him to shape our desires and actions. [42:14]
2. The Danger of Busyness: It is easy to become consumed by the busyness of life—family, work, even ministry—while losing sight of the One who gives life meaning. Our achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot fill the void that only God can satisfy. We must regularly pause and ask ourselves if our busyness is drawing us closer to God or distracting us from Him. [45:29]
3. Responding to Discouragement: When the Israelites rebuilt the temple and saw that it did not match the former glory, they became discouraged. God’s response was not to criticize their efforts, but to remind them of His presence: “Be strong…work, for I am with you…fear not.” Our worth is not measured by outward success, but by God’s abiding presence and faithfulness in our lives. [50:09]
4. The Trap of Comparison: Comparing ourselves to others or to our own past achievements leads to disappointment and discouragement. God calls us to look to Him, not to the standards of the world or our own expectations. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and trust in His provision, we find freedom from the need to measure up and discover the joy of simply being with Him. [54:20]
5. God’s Presence is Our Sufficiency: The ultimate promise is that God is with us—His Spirit dwells within us, making us His temple. No matter our circumstances or the apparent smallness of our efforts, God’s presence is enough. We are invited to rest in His love, to let go of fear, and to trust that He will provide, strengthen, and lead us as we seek Him first. [54:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Community and Unity in Giving
[02:30] - Worship in Freedom
[03:40] - Introduction to the Minor Prophets
[05:10] - Historical Context: Babylonian Captivity
[07:00] - The Return and Rebuilding
[09:15] - Haggai’s Name and Its Significance
[10:30] - The Problem: Neglecting the Temple
[13:00] - God’s Word: Consider Your Ways
[16:30] - The Emptiness of Self-Focus
[19:00] - Jesus’ Words: Seek First the Kingdom
[22:00] - Personal Confession and Application
[25:00] - The People Respond: Rebuilding Begins
[28:00] - Discouragement and God’s Encouragement
[31:00] - Fear Not: God’s Presence and Promise
[34:00] - The Trap of Comparison
[37:00] - God’s Presence in Us: The True Temple
[40:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Haggai 1:2-9 (ESV) — > Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord. Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.”

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — > But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Haggai 2:3-5 (ESV) — > ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.’

Observation Questions

According to Haggai 1:2-9, what were the people of Israel focused on instead of rebuilding the temple?
What does God mean when He says, “Consider your ways”? How many times does He repeat this phrase in Haggai 1?
In Haggai 2:3-5, how did the people feel about the new temple compared to the old one, and what was God’s response to their discouragement?
In Matthew 6:33, what does Jesus say should be our first priority, and what does He promise will happen if we do this?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God was not angry but instead lovingly invited the people to “consider your ways”? What does this reveal about God’s heart for His people?
The people had “paneled houses” but still felt empty and unsatisfied. What does this suggest about the relationship between our achievements and our spiritual fulfillment?
When the Israelites became discouraged because the new temple was not as impressive as Solomon’s, God told them, “Be strong…work, for I am with you…fear not.” What does this teach about how God measures our efforts and success?
The sermon mentions the “trap of comparison.” Why is comparing ourselves to others or to our past a source of discouragement, and how does God want us to respond instead?

Application Questions

God’s call to “consider your ways” is an invitation to examine our priorities. What is one area of your life where you sense your priorities might be out of alignment with God’s desires? What would it look like to “consider your ways” in that area this week?
The sermon talked about the “danger of busyness”—even good things like family, work, or ministry can distract us from God. What is one specific activity or commitment that tends to crowd out your time with God? How could you create space to put Him first?
When have you felt discouraged because your efforts didn’t seem to measure up—either to others’ achievements or to your own expectations? How does God’s promise, “I am with you…fear not,” speak to that situation?
The Israelites compared the new temple to the old one and felt disappointed. Is there an area in your life where you are stuck comparing yourself to others or to your past? What would it look like to let go of comparison and rest in God’s presence?
Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” What is one practical way you can seek God first in your daily routine this week?
The sermon mentioned that our worth is not measured by outward success but by God’s abiding presence. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you feel like you’re not “measuring up”?
God’s presence is our sufficiency. What is one fear or worry you need to surrender to God, trusting that His presence is enough for you?

Sermon Clips

God says this he says listen you're obsessed with building your own homes you've spent 16 years making sure that you're comfortable okay okay fine but you've neglected the house of the lord the temple lies in ruins so there are two words that god speaks to the prophet haggai to the people of his day and to us two words that we're going to focus on today consider your ways and fear not. [00:39:56] (33 seconds) #PrioritizeGodsHouse

Consider your ways it's echoed twice in that text verse 5 and verse 8 it's an important word for them and for us consider your ways now now remember god is not isn't condemning them he isn't passing judgment on on what they've done or accomplished but he is asking them to think about their priorities do you hear it in the text consider your ways you're living in paneled houses fine but my house lies in ruins. [00:40:41] (26 seconds) #ConsiderYourWaysNow

Here's the deal what the lord is saying is that outside of living in with and for him outside of worshiping and living in relationship with the lord god daily when your priorities are off you will always be living on a treadmill where you feel unsatisfied and you're not content anybody else know that besides me in this room three of us can meet afterwards as a support group. [00:42:27] (24 seconds) #CreatedForPraise

You may have great progress in your life but without the lord front and center without worship and fellowship without a relationship to the living god there will always be something missing in your life something unfulfilled and unsatisfied despite your good work or despite what you've built come on can i get a witness amen that's truth it's truth because we were created to praise the living god we were created to be in relationship with god and when we're not there's a brokenness within. [00:42:56] (39 seconds) #ChasingCottonCandy

Our first thought our first priority should be to honor the one who gives life who is life there's nothing in this life more essential than our relationship with jesus it is the relationship that shapes life jesus says seek ye first the kingdom of god and his rights all these things they'll be in saying this jesus is essentially echoing what haggai is saying consider your ways. [00:45:02] (26 seconds) #DoAllInHisName

To the discouraged and disappointed people the Lord says don't be afraid this is the second word for us today fear not the Lord says hey how the temple looks isn't as important as my promise and my presence with you can I get an amen for that what you've done isn't as important as you listening to me and working with me and making a priority making me a priority in your life by responding to my voice God basically says who cares about the temple it's sort of a shell of its former self I know some of you remember it it's kind of nothing now who cares I'm here fear not isn't that a great word isn't that a great word for a discouraged and disappointed people don't worry I am here fear not I am your God my spirit remains in your midst this is about this isn't about our performance or what the temple should look like or how good you're doing it's about my presence with you this is about a relationship with the living God. [00:53:18] (53 seconds) #GodDwellsWithinYou

Fear not you are not alone the promise of god is with you the presence of god is in you and that's the beauty of this haggai and the remnant that returned to build the rebuild jerusalem in the temple a place to meet and worship god but in christ god is building a temple in you by giving you the power and the presence of the spirit that lives in you. [00:55:19] (19 seconds) #TrustNotTempleAppearance

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