Ezra 3:3 Devotion by Stephen Taylor

Ezra 3:3

Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.

 

Do we let fear dictate how we serve and obey the Lord? Or do we push through and serve and obey Him regardless? Yesterday, the Lord blessed me with an opportunity to share some of my story with a youth camp. On the outside, I may have looked calm, but inside, I was a mess. I was anxious, nervous, and, to be honest, a little fearful. And let me tell you, it didn’t get any better once I got behind that microphone. I was a wreck, to say the least, and had trouble focusing and listening to the Lord, but He is merciful, and with His help, I made it through it.

 

Now, I may not have lived up to the standards that I put on myself, but I believe that my Father in Heaven was pleased because I did what He called me to do. I didn’t stop because of the fear or anxiety but leaned into Him more and shared what He put on my heart. I may have been all over the place, but the beautiful thing is that the power isn’t in the words I spoke but the One Who I spoke about!

 

Too often, I judge myself on how well I perform or the response I get. That, my friends, is a sin, and one I’m working on daily. Instead of looking at it through my eyes, I should look at it through His: Did I share what He told me to share? Did I obey? Was I humble? Where was my heart? And more importantly, did I point people to the Lord and give Him the glory, or was I trying to get it for myself?

 

Brothers and sisters, I confess my faults, sins, and shortcomings to you because this is one of the ways we can grow and walk a little freer in Him! So, pray for me and each other! Don’t let fear hold you back, crucify it by stepping out on faith and getting out of your comfort zones!

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we live by faith, not by sight.

 

James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

God bless! I love you all, Glory, Honor, and Praise now, forever and only to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Spirit of Wisdom the Holy Spirit!