Nehemiah 9:3:
“They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and worshiping the Lord their God.”
TL;DR: Confession and worship aren’t just occasional practices—they are keys to spiritual health. Even if we’re not as bad as we used to be, we must continually seek God’s truth and examine our hearts.
Can you imagine spending over half your day reading God’s Word, confessing, and worshiping?
Many people struggle to read even one Bible verse a day. I know this because I’ve seen it firsthand with my clients.
Years ago, my mornings started with working out. Now, my mornings begin with learning God’s Word and worshiping Him.
That shift in priorities led me to this truth:
“When you put on your faith, you are fit for anything.”
(I still value exercise, but I value faith more. See 1 Timothy 4:8.)
Reading Nehemiah 9:3 reminds me that I don’t spend much time in confession.
I used to think of confession as something I needed when my sins were loud—like when I was actively drinking. But just because my sins aren’t as obvious today doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
I am still human, which means I am still full of sin.
In AA, we have a saying: “Our secrets keep us sick.”
That applies to our spiritual life too. Unconfessed sin lingers. It settles into our hearts and slowly dulls our sensitivity to God’s standards.
Today, I am inspired to look deeper.
What behaviors am I excusing as “reasonable” that don’t align with God’s truth?
What desires have I justified because they are “not that bad”?
The world’s standards are not God’s standards.
As Joyce Meyer says: “I’m not as bad as I used to be, but I’m not where I want to be.”
Staying in confession and worship keeps my heart humble and my spirit healthy.
Let’s not settle for being “better than we used to be.” Let’s keep striving toward Christ.
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