Why the Hand of God was on Ezra (and how it can be on you.)

"...for the gracious hand of God was on him.  For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."  
Ezra 7:9b-10

Whenever I read about a powerful man of God, I want to know how he became so powerful.  Usually the scriptures give the answer, and thus an example for me to follow.  Ezra is the example I'm focused on.  An example of what to do for the hand of the LORD to be upon you.  I see three devotions as conditions:  Bible study, Bible observance, and Bible teaching.

BE DEVOTED TO BIBLE STUDY
Ezra dedicated and committed himself to studying scripture.  He focused his mind on reading, memorizing, and deeply understanding God's written word.  We of course can't understand or memorize before we read.  And we can't even read if we aren't committed to the God who inspired the Bible.  The test of commitment is our obedience, which leads to the second devotion.

BE DEVOTED TO BIBLE OBSERVANCE
This means meditation for the purpose of application.  We keep God's written word in mind so that we're careful to do what it says.  God promises us peace, stability, and success when we do this.  He also promises effectiveness as witnesses of Jesus, as teachers of God's word.

BE DEVOTED TO TEACHING THE BIBLE
Whether you're a pastor, Sunday school teacher, or simply a believer, when we use scripture as our measure of truth and wisdom, having studied and observed it ourselves, our lives and words will have the Spirit's power.  God's hand will be upon us.

Starting now, I'll follow the Spirit, no matter the consequences.  This will change my present, past and future.

It will change my past because I will be--now--what I should've been--then.  I'll be a new son, brother, cousin.  I'll be the son, brother, and cousin I should've been then, erasing then in the now, and for the future.

I'll be a new husband and father, doing now what I should've done then.  I'll be forgiven by God, my wife, my children; my sins will be forgiven and forgotten as if they never happened.  (This will be the case for me as a son, brother, and cousin also.)

I'll be a new Team Leader, a new Counselor.  (Monday is my first official day anyway.  I've always believed that each day is literally a new realm, where I can be a new me, and I can act is if the old me, the me from yesterday, wasn't real.  I can either ask for forgiveness, and the old me can be forgotten.  Or I can just act like I don't know what people are talking about when they talk to me like I'm the old me.)

Each moment can be a new moment.  Each day.  Each birthday.  Each holiday. All I have to do is be forgiven and my past will be forgotten as if it never happened.  Jesus made this possible.  He made rebirth possible. 

So starting now, I'm reborn through faith in Jesus.  When He died, I died with Him.  The old me was crucified with Christ.  My old body that was enslaved to sin was destroyed.  I am no longer a slave of sin or sinning.