Finding Strength Through Worship
We read Ezra 3 today. We see an inspiring picture of faith and perseverance. The Israelites had just returned from exile. It is natural for anyone in their position to be eager to see everything restored, to have everything fall into place. However, despite the tough beginnings of restoration, and before they see anything back to normal, the first thing they did was to rebuild the altar and lay the foundation of the temple. They understood the importance of returning to God in worship, even before everything else was in place.
“Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord” (verse 3)
I remember the lyrics of a song. “In times like this, I choose to praise you.” In their moment of vulnerability and fear, the people chose to trust God. They did not wait for the ideal condition. They acted in faith. They placed their worship and devotion first. This reminds us that no matter what we are going through, worship can be our foundation of faith, and it can brings peace and strength.
Here are some lessons we can learn from Ezra 3. Trust God now. When we face uncertainty, do not wait for everything to be alright. Turn to God now and let worship be the foundation of your life. Rebuild your altars. If you have areas where your devotion to God has been neglected, work on it. It can be your devotion time, your prayer life, your worship, your testimonies. Step up in faith. Trust God to meet you in your act of worship, in good times and bad.
I invite you to say this prayer.
Father, help me to place my worship and trust in you above all else. Give me strength to rebuild areas where I have drifted. Guide me to make you the centre of my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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