Pastor Stephen Dedman

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What “foundation” has God laid in your life that you need to be praising Him for today?

Context
The people of Israel had returned from exile in Babylon to a land that once felt like home but now was in ruins. Jerusalem was broken. The temple was destroyed. Everything familiar was gone. Yet in Ezra 3, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the foundation of the new temple was finally constructed. And what did the people do? They didn’t wait for completion of the entire temple. They began to worshipping and praising the Lord singing: “For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

Application
The temple wasn’t completely rebuilt yet. The city wasn’t restored. Life wasn’t fully put back together. But the foundation was laid, and that was enough to spark worship.

Too often, we delay our praise until everything looks right: “I’ll rejoice when the breakthrough comes”or “I’ll give thanks when the answer shows up.”

Ezra 3:11 reminds us that God is worthy of praise even in the early stages when all we see is a foundation. Some of the older men wept because they remembered the former temple. It didn’t look the same. It didn’t feel the same. But the younger generation shouted for joy.

And Scripture says the sound of weeping and rejoicing was so mixed that it couldn’t be distinguished. That’s real life. You can grieve what was and still praise God for what He is doing.

Truth For The Day
Don’t have to wait for the finished product to give God praise.

Pray
Lord, You are good, and Your love endures forever. Help me to praise You not just when things are complete, but while You are still working. Teach me to trust You in the process and to celebrate what You have started in my life. Even in the rubble, I choose to worship You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you dwelling on what has ended or listening for what God is saying next?

Context
The book of Book of Joshua opens at a moment of uncertainty. Moses, the great leader who delivered Israel from Egypt, is dead. For years, the people leaned on his leadership. Now, a new chapter begins as God speaks directly to Joshua, calling him to step into a role that likely felt overwhelming.

This is more than a leadership change, it’s a reminder that God’s work does not stop when a season ends.

Application
“After the death of Moses…” Those words carry weight. They represent loss, change, and the closing of something familiar. But notice what happens next: “the Lord said…”Before Joshua ever moves, God speaks. Joshua may have felt unready. He had always been the assistant, never the one in charge. Now the responsibility was his. Yet God doesn’t begin with Joshua’s ability, He begins with His voice.

That’s the turning point. When one season ends, God is not silent. He is already speaking into what’s next. The same God who was with Moses was speaking to Joshua. The same God who was faithful yesterday is faithful today. The transition didn’t catch God off guard and it didn’t disqualify Joshua.

God is not finished with you yet, He may just be repositioning you.

Truth For The Day
When one season ends, God is already preparing you for the next.

Pray
Lord, help me trust You in seasons of transition. When things change and I feel uncertain, remind me that You are still speaking and still leading. Give me the courage to step into what You are calling me to, even when I feel unprepared. Thank You that You are faithful in every season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you discouraged because you’re focusing on what you see, instead of trusting what God has promised?

Context
The people of Israel had returned from the Babylonian exile and were rebuilding the temple. But there was a problem, it didn’t look like it used to. Compared to Solomon’s temple, this one seemed small, was not as impressive, and definitely lacked glory. The people were discouraged.

God spoke through the prophet Haggai to remind them: Don’t measure this moment by what you see. He promised that He would “shake the nations” and that something greater was coming which would be the true “Desire of all nations.” This was both an encouragement and a future promise pointing to Christ, who would bring a glory far greater than any building.

Application
We tend to measure success by size, beauty, or visible results. But God measures things by His presence. The same God who promised to fill the temple with glory is still at work shaking, preparing, and fulfilling His purposes in ways we don’t always understand.

And ultimately, Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise. He is what every heart is truly longing for even when they don’t realize it.

When things feel unstable, it may be God positioning everything for His greater purpose. Fix your mind on Christ. He is the Desire of all nations.

Truth for Today
God’s greatest work is often happening in places that don’t look impressive.

Pray
Lord, help me to trust You when things don’t look the way I expected. Teach me not to measure my life by outward success, but by Your presence and Your promises. When everything feels like it’s shaking, remind me that You are still in control. in Jesus’ name, Amen.