And for another fourth day they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God.

Nehemiah 9:1-3, NOW on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dirt upon them. And the descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

People in our culture get uncomfortable if the church service goes over by five minutes! What about four days, covered with dirt, fasting, confessing sin, reading the word and worshipping? It’s not that some kind of asceticism makes us better before God; this was the fruit of conviction by the Holy Spirit. What are we missing today?

We thank You that by Your grace we are saved, yet we need Your Holy conviction every day, Lord; come, Holy Spirit.