Father, You could have crushed your people for turning from You to idols. Instead, You punished them, using Babylon and Persia, but You left a remnant. Then You rebuilt the lands and cities that You crushed for the sake of your name that the nations would know that You are the LORD. Father, You had the right to eliminate in my sinful state, but You chose to offer grace for the sake of your name. You reordered my ashes into something beautiful and purposeful for your glory. Thank You for your favor and blessing in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.

“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezekiel 36: 33-36)