You Are My God! (Based On Psalm 140)

Psalms 140-142 – Day 2

Save me, O Lord, from the evil person. Faithfully keep me from the man who does wrong, Whose heart is constantly plotting to do evil, And lives to stir up trouble. Their tongue pierces like the fangs of a snake, Their smooth talk conceals poison. Watch over me and protect me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, Acts as a watchman, guarding me from the violent man, Who is out to knock me down every step I take. These arrogant individuals secretly lay traps for me, They lay a net along the path, using bait to lure me in. I said to the Lord, "You are my God!" Listen to my pleas for help! You are Jehovah Adonai, the one whose strength provides my salvation. You watched over me in battle, covering me with Your hand. Don't let the wicked have their way, O Lord, Don't let their wicked plans succeed, because they are proud. As for the ringleader of the group who surrounds me, Let the plans they have to harm me come back on them. Let them get burned by their own wicked schemes, Burn them with fire and let them fall into a deep pit from which they can't escape. Don't let these men who slander others survive on this earth, Let evil pursue them and overthrow them. I know from experience that You will protect those whom they persecute, You will show justice to those who deserve it. Surely the righteous will have plenty of reason to praise Your name, Those who live to please You will enjoy being in Your presence.

I Look To You For Help! (Based on Psalm 141)

Lord, I call out to You, respond to me quickly! Listen to the sound of my voice as I call out to You! Let my prayer to You be a sweet fragrance to You, like incense, And my uplifted hands like an acceptable sacrifice. Guard my speech, O Lord, watch over what I say, Don't allow my heart to pursue evil, Don't let me follow the example of those who do wrong, Or consume the "tasty treats" they offer. Let the godly beat me into shape like a blacksmith does metal, out of love for me. Let me find their correction soothing and healing, But I will continue to pray against the wicked and all that they do. Even their judges will be judged and thrown off the cliff to their deaths, Then they will listen to all I have said and know I was right. Our bones got scattered before we had a chance for burial, We lie out in the open like rocks stirred up by the plow. So I look to You, O Lord, it is in You I place my trust. Don't disappoint me! Guard me from falling into the trap they have set for me, And don't let me take the bait they offer. Instead, let them fall into their own traps and let me escape.

You Know What I Should Do. (Based on Psalm 142)

I cry out to You, O Lord, I call out to You for mercy. I spill my guts to You, I let You know all of my troubles. But right when I felt like all was lost, You knew exactly where I was, You were completely aware of all the traps they had set for me, From my perspective, I looked around and their was no one to help me, No one understand what I was going through, and nobody offered to help. There was no one who even really cared. So I cried out to You, O Lord, I said, "You are my refuge, the only thing I really need in this life!" Hear my cry, because I am at a really low point, Deliver me from those who persecute me, because they are stronger than I am. Release me from this prison, so that I can have reason to praise Your name, Bring me into the company of other godly people, so they can support me.

Seeing God As God.

Psalms 140-142 – Day 1

"I said to the Lord, 'You are my God!'" – Psalm 140:6 NLT

What an interesting statement. "I said to the Lord, 'You are my God!'" Did God need to be told this? Was this some kind of revelation to Him from the lips of David? I don't think so. But it was David's way of saying that Jehovah (Lord), was the one he turned to, relied on, and believed in. David proved it by the content of the three prayers reflected by these three Psalms. David turns to God for rescue, protection, mercy, vengeance, justice, motivation for righteousness, help in times of trouble, refuge, compassion, empathy, understanding, encouragement, and strength. In fact, David knew he could turn to God when everyone else had proven themselves unreliable, unresponsive and uncaring. "I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then, I pray to you, O Lord" (Psalm 142:4-5 NLT).

To say that the Lord is my God is to say that He is my sole source of hope and the only object of my faith. I don't have any other gods before me. I don't worship anything or anyone else. I don't turn to anything else for comfort or security, including fame, fortune, or friendships. To say that God is my God is to claim exclusive worship. It is to promise God that He alone is my Savior. He alone can rescue me. Only He can do something about my problems, which usually have far more to do with my own heart than my circumstances. To tell God that He is my God is a form of confession, but also a statement of commitment. Like David, I am saying that my allegiance belongs to Him, my prayers are directed to Him, my hope is placed in Him, and my worship is reserved for Him – and Him alone.

These three Psalms are expressions of need. They clearly indicate David's hurt and heartache. David is opening up his soul to His God. He is telling Him exactly how he feels, because he knows that God cares and that God can do something about it. Every time we pray to God, we prove to Him that He is our God. We acknowledge our dependence on Him. Our prayers become "as incense offered" and our "upraised hands as an evening offering."  God truly becomes our God when we rest in Him, rely on Him, turn to Him, and trust in Him.

Father, You are my God. You alone hear my prayers and have the capacity to answer them. You can do something about my needs and love me enough to do so. But I confess there are plenty of times I turn to other things for comfort, help, hope, security, and salvation. Thank You for Your patience with me. Continue to help me discover the truth of the statement, "You are my God!" Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

God Has A Plan For My Life. (Based on Psalm 138)

Psalms 138-139 – Day 2

I want to thank You from the depths of my heart, I will sing Your praises so even the angels in heaven can hear me! I will bow toward Your holy temple in Jerusalem and offer thanks for Your reputation: Your unfailing love and faithfulness, And keeping Your word is the greatest aspect of Your reputation. Any time I have ever called out to You for help, You have always answered. As a result I was filled with a boldness and confidence inside. Every powerful person on earth would praise You, if they ever stopped long enough to listen to You. And some day they will praise You, because You are an incredible God. Yet even though You are exalted, You take time to care about the lowly. But You keep Your distance from the proud. And even though I live my life surrounded by trouble, You will keep me alive, opposing all my enemies, and protecting me in Your hand. You will complete Your plan for my life, because Your unfailing love for me never does fail. You don't abandon those whom You have made.

You Know Me Better Than I Know Myself. (Based on Psalm 139)

O Lord, You have examined me closely and know everything there is to know about me. You know every time I sit and every time I stand up. Distance doesn't prevent You from understanding every one of my thoughts. Nothing I do escapes You, whether I am out and about or in bed. You are highly familiar with everything I do. You know what I am going to say before I even have a chance to say it! You know my past and my future, Your hand is all over me. When I think about all this, it blows me away, I can't even comprehend it all. Where can I go to escape You, or even attempt to hide from You? If I were able to go to heaven, You would be there. If I went the opposite direction, You would be there too. If I got up at dawn and went to the other side of the sea, You would still be guiding me and holding me in Your hand! Even if I thought I could hide from Your view at night, You would see me just as clearly, because day and night are one and the same to You. You have been in control of my life from the beginning, from before I was even born. I will praise You because You made me and that knowledge inspires both fear and wonder. Nothing about me was unknown to You when I was formed, You saw me even in my unfinished state, You had recorded every day of my life before I had even lived a single second. How priceless are your plans for me, O Lord, I can't even add up their value. Even if I could try to count them, they would be like the sand on the seashore! Every time I wake up, I find myself in Your presence. You will take care of the wicked people in my life, so they might as well leave now. These people actually treat You wickedly, using Your name in vain. I hate them because they hate You, I am burdened by those who resist You. I despise them and count them as my enemies. But I invite You to examine me, O Lord, to perceive what is in my heart; Test me and know the content of my thoughts. Inspect me closely, and see if there is anything about the way I live my life that is wicked, And lead me along the path of righteousness You have chosen for me.

Nobody Knows Me Better.

Psalms 138-139 – Day 1

"The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." – Psalm 138:8 NLT

There are times when I don't even know myself. I do and say things that surprise even me. I can never know for sure how I will react to a given situation. I may respond in calmness and patience one day, then explode in anger and impatience the next. I have a limited understanding of what motivates me and why I act the way I do. Sometimes words come out of my mouth that catch me off guard. I can be disappointed in my own response to people and circumstances. There are those moments when I can appear as a stranger – even to myself.

But God knows me. He knows me better than I know myself. David understood this unbelievable characteristic about God. He knew that God was all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present. He knew that God was always there, and that God knew every single detail of his life, including what he was thinking and what he was going to say, even before the words came out of his mouth. David also understood that God had a plan for his life and that God was working that plan each and every day – regardless of what David's circumstances might have looked like. All of this news about God can be both encouraging and scary. The fact that God knows everything there is to know about us can be a bit intimidating or we can find it comforting. David was prone to the latter. He understood that along with God's divine attributes of omniscience (He knows everything), omnipotence (He is all-powerful), and omnipresence (He is everywhere at once), God was also all-loving, completely faithful, and a God who keeps all of His promises all of the time. So the fact that God knew all of David's thoughts didn't scare him, it comforted him. David was able to say, "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me" (Psalm 139:1 NLT). That thought caused David to say, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand" (Psalm 139:6 NLT). David might not have fully comprehended the reality of God's all-knowing, all-powerful presence in his life, he DID appreciate it. David knew that God had created him – he was a byproduct of God's imagination and creative capabilities. He was not a mistake or an act of chance. "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (Psalm 139:16 NLT). What an amazing thought.

This understanding of God's intimate relationship with him caused David to invite God to do something that for many of us sounds a bit risky. It sounds like an invitation that could end up producing some less-than-satisfactory results. But keep in mind, David knew that God loved him and had a plan for his life. He trusted God. There was nothing that God did not know about his life. There was nothing that David thought or did that was hidden from God. So he asked God to "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 1139:23-24 NLT). David was asking God to reveal to him what only God knew about him. David was asking God to show him things about his life he was incapable of seeing or even knowing. As men, we can't really know our hearts. He can't fully understand our motives. We are blinded by pride and self-righteousness, and we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are really better than we are. So David goes to the one source that can see past the facade and look into the inner recesses of our hearts. He asks God, the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-loving God to do an MRI of his life and reveal the results. David knew that God loved him and had a plan for his life. But David also knew that he was a man who was prone to sin. He knew his heart was not to be trusted. He knew that he was incapable of really knowing what was going on in his heart. So he asked God to examine, test, and prove him. He asked God to point out anything and everything that was an offense to Him. Scary? Yes. Risky? Not really. David was simply learning what God already knew. David was tapping into God's limitless understanding and relying on God's unfailing love for him.

Father, You love me. And what's amazing is that You love me even though You know everything there is to know about me. There is nothing I can hide from You. I can't fool you with my pious activities or acts of religious pretense. I can't fake faith in front of You. You know me just as I am and yet You love me anyway. Give me the heart of David, that I might ask You to search me, know my heart, test me, know the cause of all my anxious thoughts, and point out everything in my life that offends You. The sooner I see the truth about myself, the sooner I can confess my sins and get back on Your path for my life. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

It's Not All About Me. (Based on Psalm 131)

Psalms 131 & 133 – Day 2

It's Not All About Us. (Based on Psalm 131)

Lord, I don't have an arrogant heart, I don't look down on others as if I'm better than they are. I don't walk around with an attitude of self-importance, Or as if I am somehow God's gift to the world. I am calm and quiet, weaned off my incessant need for significance, Like a baby gets weaned off its mothers milk. So Israel, put your hope in the Lord and not me, from this point forward!

It's All About Us. (Based on Psalm 133)

How wonderful and delightful it is to live our lives alongside one another! This sense of togetherness is pervasive, like the oil used to anoint Aaron, It ran from his head to his beard and all the way to the bottom of his robe. It is like the dew that falls on Mount Hermon, that covers the mountains of Zion, For it was there that God promised His blessing to us as His people, Life in the community of God that will never end.

The Beauty of Unity.

Psalms 131 & 133 – Day 1

"How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers lives together in harmony!" – Psalm 133:1 NLT

These two Psalms are also Songs of Ascent, a collection of Psalms that were sung as pilgrims made their annual journey to Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover. Psalm 131 places the emphasis on the individual. In it, David expresses his humility. He doesn't think too highly of himself. He refuses to think of himself as too smart for his own good or better than anyone else – in spite of the fact that he is the king. In Psalm 133, he turns his attention to the communal aspect of his faith. He recognizes that he is part of a collection of individuals who together make up the family of God. But it is about more than community, it is about harmony and unity. This is to be true of the church as well. In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul writes, "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had" (Philippians 2:1-5 NLT). He then goes on to describe the attitude that Christ had: One of humility, service, sacrifice, love, and obedience. Paul says that we are to have this same mindset. We are to pursue unity through humility.

In his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul stresses the same idea: "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT). There it is again. Humility. Unity. Oneness. Paul saw the wisdom in what David had written hundreds of years earlier. It truly is wonderful and pleasant when brothers live together in harmony. And because of what Christ accomplished on the cross and due to theinfluence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have the capacity to love as no one has ever loved before. We have the mind of Christ and can love as He loved, sacrifice as He did, humble ourselves in the same way He did, and give our lives away in selfless service to others. Especially within the context of the body of Christ.

Before He went to His death on the cross, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples: "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:34-35 NLT). Jesus commanded His followers to love one another. That would be the distinctive characteristic that we belonged to Him. It would prove our relationship with Him. It is amazing how much emphasis we put on the Great Commission, feeling the need to go out into the world and make disciples. But we rarely, if ever, talk about this command from the lips of Jesus. He is calling us to love for one another – within the body of Christ, the church. He is commanding us to love as He loved – to the point of death. But is that really happening. Does the world know we are His disciples because of our selfless love for one another, or because of our acts of charity, our generosity, our missions endeavors, our ability to share the Gospel, or our organization effectiveness. Are the lost attracted to our love for one another? Do they see in us something they can't see anywhere else in the world? Christ has given us the capacity to love and be loved. He has created a new thing called the church, the family of God. In it, we are to live out the character of Christ in the context of community. What good is it to express our love for the lost when we have a hard time loving one another? How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony!

Father, as the church, we have failed to obey the command of Your own Son. We do not love one another as He has called us to love. We can be petty, selfish, divisive, competitive, and mean. We can attempt to do great things for Your kingdom while we refuse to love one another as we have been loved by You. Open our eyes and help us to understand that the church is a noun, not a verb. We are Your people. We are to live as such. We are Your children. We are to get along. We present You in the world. But if we can't love one another, the Good News loses some of its power. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

A Love For God's House. (Based on Psalm 122)

Psalms 122 & 124 – Day 2

A Love For God's House. (Based on Psalm 122)

I was ecstatic when I heard the news that it was time to head to God's house. We were going to get to stand within the very gates of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was established as a city to unify the people of God by bringing them together, It is where all the tribes of Israel gather to keep their promise to worship God, To show gratitude for His reputation as their God. There in Jerusalem, are thrones of judgment, including the throne of the house of David. We need to pray for the peace, welfare and prosperity of Jerusalem, Because as long as Jerusalem prospers, so will all those who love this city. We pray for peace to exist throughout the city, inside its walls and its palaces, For the sake of fellow Israelites, I say, "May there be peace in Jerusalem!" Because the house of God is there, I will seek the good of Jerusalem.

God Is On Our Side. (Based on Psalm 124)

Let us remind ourselves, "What if God had not been on our side?" May all of Israel say, "What if God had not been on our side when our enemies rose up against us?" We would have easily defeated by them when they turned their anger against us. We would have been overwhelmed, our souls would have been drowned. The raging waters would have flooded over our soul. But let us kneel before God, who didn't let any of that happen, He helped us escape, like a bird from a trap set by a fowler, God broke the snare and we escaped. We find help in the reputation of the Lord, the one who made heaven and earth.

A Question Worth Asking.

Psalms 122 ¶ 124 – Day 1

"What if the Lord had not been on our side?" – Psalm 124:1a NLT

What if the Lord had not been on our side? What if He had not answered our prayers? What if He had refused to rescue us? What if He had not sent His Son to die in our place? These are all sobering questions that require us to consider NOT the consequences if our God ever failed to come through, but the reality that He always does. He is always faithful and true. He is always on our side. It may not appear like it at times, but His very nature, His character assures us that He is on our side.

These two Psalms are part of what were called the Songs of Ascent. They were sung by the pilgrims making their annual journey to Jerusalem for Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles, both celebrations associated with the Passover. These songs were sung along the way, reminding the travelers of their destination and the One to whom they were making this long arduous journey to worship. They were going to Jerusalem "to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel" (Psalm 122:4b NLT). The name of the Lord was synonymous with His reputation. He was El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), El Elyon (The Most High God), Adonai (Lord, Master), Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner), Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shephard), Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals), Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You), El Olam (The Everlasting God), Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace), and Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord Of Hosts). God's names were a picture of who He was and all that He had done for the people of Israel. So they went up each year to celebrate His activity in their lives and in the life of their nation.

But they also celebrated the reality that, without God, they would have no hope. Had God not been on their side, "The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us" (Psalm 124:4 NLT). They recognized that life without God would have been no life at all. They understood that their help was from the Lord, the same Creator God who had made heaven and earth. This all-powerful God had chosen to have a personal relationship with them and provide them with His protection, provision and ongoing presence. But rather than take this fact for granted, they people of Israel reminded themselves what life would be like if things were different. They asked the sobering question, "What if the Lord had not been on our side?" We could probably stand to do the same thing. Without Him, our lives would be bleak indeed.

Father, my life is nothing without You. My future would be hopeless without You. My life would have no meaning without You. But because of who You are, I know I have help, hope, and healing at my disposal. I have a relationship with the God of the universe. Thank You. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

The Messiah. (Based on Psalm 110)

Psalm 110 – Day 2

Jehovah God said to my Lord, the Messiah, "Sit at the place of honor at my right side, until I make all Your enemies your footstool." Jehovah God will stretch out the rod representing Your strength from Zion. He will command You to rule over all of your enemies. When that happens, all Your people will gladly follow You. With the dawn of the day, You will arise in Your holiness and with youthful vigor. Jehovah God has made a vow and will not change His mind, You will be a permanent priest after the order of Melchizedek. When You get ready to deal out Your wrath on the nations, You will use Him who sits at Your right hand, He will execute Your judgment among the nations, He will punish them for their sins, leaving corpses in His wake. He will shatter the heads of the nations. He will refresh Himself at the brook along the way, And complete His task with head held high!

The Ultimate David.

Psalm 110 – Day 1

"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.'" – Psalm 110:1 NLT

This is a somewhat confusing Psalm. It was written by David, but he appears to be talking about someone else. The term, Lord, is mentioned twice, but it seems a bit unclear as to who the Lord is in both cases. Is David talking about himself or someone else? Are all the statements in this passage referring to him or another person? In the Hebrew culture, the term, The Lord, was understood to be a reference to the Messiah, the coming Savior of Israel. So in the Psalm, David is referring not to himself, but to the future Messiah, God's divinely appointed ruler over Israel. This Psalm is a prophesy regarding Jesus and His coming role as the conquering Messiah that will take place at the end of the ages. David knew there was a day coming when all the enemies of Israel and God would be completely destroyed by the King of kings and Lord of Lords – Jesus the Christ or Messiah. Over in the book of Matthew we have recorded an incident between Jesus and the Pharisees, where Jesus uses this very passage to point to himself.

While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question:“What do you think about the Christ?Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.”He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.  – Matthew 22:41-46 NLT

Jesus knew that this Psalm was a future prediction of an event yet to take place. It has still yet to take place. But there was no doubt in Jesus' mind that Psalm 110 was talking about Himself. And it is a reminder to us that there is a day coming when Jesus, as the Christ (the Greek word for Messiah), will return to the earth to complete the plan of God for Israel and all mankind. Jesus' work is not yet done. He sits at the right hand of the Father even as I type these words, but when God is ready, He will send Jesus to "strike down many kings when his anger erupts. He will punish the nations and fill their land with corpses; he will shatter heads over the whole earth. But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way. He will be victorious" (Psalm 110:5-7 NLT).

For David, a king, this was a wonderful picture of victory over his enemies. He knew that someday God was going to give Israel complete victory over every one of their foes. David lived in a time when battle was a daily ordeal. He was surrounded by enemies and regularly confronted by war. There was never a day when someone didn't want to destroy him or the nation over which he ruled. So the idea of final victory and no more wars was appealing to him. And it should be to us as well. Like David, we are surrounded by enemies, by those who oppose God and His ways. They live for this world and are influenced by the Prince of this world, Satan himself. Everyday we go to war with our own flesh, the world and the ruler of this world. We are under constant attack. There is never a time when we can take a day off or remove our armor. We must be constantly prepared to defend ourselves. The war is real and so are the casualties. We see them in the form of broken marriages, rebellious kids, addictions of all kinds, depression, anxiety, and an assortment of diseases. This Psalm assures us that there is a day coming when God will set all things right. His plan will be finalized. His Son, the Messiah, will complete what He came to do. He came the first time to provide a way of salvation for mankind. He made it possible for us to be made right with God. He offered all mankind a means by which they could escape the coming wrath of God against all who refuse Him. But there is a day coming when Christ will return, but this time it will not be as Savior, but as a conquering King. He will do battle with all those who stand against God and He will have victory. The enemy will be defeated once and for all. He will set up His kingdom on earth and He will rule from Jerusalem. There will be peace in the world for the first time since the creation of the world. Order will be restored, shalom will be present once more. He will be victorious.

Father, in the midst of the daily battles of life it is so easy to get defeated by what appears to be a hopeless cause. It can be so easy to want to give up and give in. Our efforts seem to make no difference. The battles we fight don't seem to be winning the war. But in the Psalm You remind us that the ultimate victory is Yours, not ours. David had to fight his battles, but he rested in the knowledge that You were going to one day bring about complete victory. Don't let me forget that. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

Bad Times. Good God. (Based on Psalm 109)

Psalm 109 – Day 2

O God, You are one the one I praise, Now I need to hear from You, for you to break Your silence. The wicked and deceivers have no trouble speaking up, They slander me and tell lies about me all the time. I am surrounded by their hateful words, And they oppose me for no reason. I show them love and they respond with accusations, But I continue to pray for them. I do them good, and I get evil in return, I get hatred as payback for my love. This is what they have to say about me: "Let's get a wicked man to accuse him falsely, Someone who can take him to court under false pretenses. Then when his case comes up for trial, let's hope he loses. May even his prayers be viewed as sin when this is over. We wish him a short life, so someone else can have his job. Let his kids be fatherless and his wife a widow! May his kids end up as homeless beggars, searching for food in the dump. May his creditors take all he owns, and strangers end up with the rest. May he have no future and his family name cease to exist. May God remember his sins forever and punish his family accordingly. He is a merciless man who refuses to care for the poor and needy, He took advantage of the down-trodden. He loved to curse others, so let him be cursed, Since he refused to bless others, don't let him experience it. He clothed himself in a life of cursing and it has seeped into his own life, Let curses surround him like the fancy clothes he wears."

But Lord, I ask that You turn these curses back on my adversaries, I ask You to treat me according to Your reputation. Show me mercy. Rescue me. I am poor, needy, and suffer from a broken heart. I am fading quickly and blown back and forth like a helpless insect. I am weak from fasting and I have no energy left. Everyone looks at me with either pity or disgust, shaking their heads. Help me, O God, answer me according to Your mercy! May they be able to see that it was You who rescued me. Let them curse, but You bless. When the rise up against me, let them be disappointed and let me rejoice. Clothe them with shame and surround them with confusion like a garment. When You act, I will praise You, O Lord, I will praise You among the people. You stand by those in need, and deliver them from those who stand against them.

When All Else Fails – God Won't.

Psalm 109 – Day 1

"But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good." – Psalm 109:21 NLT

David has some real classy friends. He loves and prays for them, and in return, they slander him, tell lies about him, falsely accuse him, and wish all kinds of bad things would happen to him, including that he would die and his children become beggars. As the old saying goes, with friends like that, who needs enemies? These people, whoever they are, have it out for David, and they are calling down the judgment of God on him. David is misunderstood, mistreated, disliked, and disdained by his so-called friends. So he does the one thing he knows to do in tough times – he calls on God. He appeals to the only one who can do anything about his situation. And he bases his appeal to God on the reputation of God for holiness, righteousness, justice and equity. He knows that God understands the situation better than anyone else, and that God is the only one who can do anything about it. God is fully aware of the accusations leveled against David and He knows whether they are true or not. David doesn't have to defend himself to God, because God already knows the truth. David calls out to God because he is poor and needy and his heart is full of pain (Psalm 109:22). He claims, "I am fading like a shadow at dusk; I am brushed off like a locust. My knees are weak from fasting, and I am skin and bones. I am a joke to people everywhere; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn" (Psalm 109:22-25 NLT). David is in a bad spot. He is under attack and overwhelmed by his circumstances, so he calls out to God. He appeals to His mercy, grace, righteousness, goodness, and unfailing love. He knows that if God is on His side, it doesn't matter what his "friends" say or do to him. "Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me!" (Psalm 109:28 NLT). David knows that God will deal favorably with him. He will rescue and restore him. God will give David plenty of reasons to praise Him when it is all said and done. "I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising him to everyone. For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them" (Psalm 109:30-31 NLT). While everything seemed to be failing around David, he knew his God would not let him down. He is faithful, true, reliable, and always ready to stand by those He loves. Friends may dessert and disappoint us, but God never will. When all else fails, God won't.

Father, sometimes in the midst of difficulty it is easy to lose sight of the fact that You are faithful – all the time. I can easily begin to think that You have left me and forsaken me. But You are faithful. Your love is not fickle or fluctuating. Your character is always consistent. When everything and everyone else fails me, You never will. Thank You! Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

Ready For Anything. (Based on Psalm 108)

Psalm 108 – Day 2

O God, my heart is stable and secure in You, I will sing Your praises with everything in me. Wake up, lute and harp. Help me welcome the dawn with music. I will praise You among my own people and in front of the nations. All because Your mercy is as high as the heavens, And Your faithfulness extends to the clouds. Magnify Yourself above the heavens, And let Your glory be seen above the earth. Answer my prayer by delivering those You love with mercy and faithfulness, Save them with Your powerful right hand. You have made Your promises based on Your holiness, "I will rejoice in triumph, dividing up Shechem, And measuring out the valley of Succoth. Gilead and Manasseh are mine, Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter, Moab is my washbasin, Edom is where I will throw my dirty sandal. I will stand in triumph over Philistia." So who will make it possible for me to enter the fortified city? Who will lead me in victory into Edom? Aren't You the one who has rejected us, O God? Are You not going to go into battle with our army? Grant us assistance from our enemies, For the deliverance of men is worthless. Only You, O God, allow our army to appear powerful, Because it is You who really brings about their defeat, not us.

Well-Placed Confidence.

Psalm 108 – Day 1

"My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart." – Psalm 108:1 NLT

David is ready. He is prepared to face anything. He is strong and confident. Why? Because of God. This is not a case of self-confidence, but David's confession that his hope and trust are in God alone. He knows that with God's help he can face any situation with confidence and peace. He says, "With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes" (Psalm 1087:13 NLT). There is no enemy too powerful or problem too big for God. David has learned that fearing is futile and pointless when God is on your side. Trying to take matters into your own hands is ridiculous when you have the God of the universe fighting for you. David's awareness of this fact causes him to sing God's praises. He can't help but express gratefulness for God's unfailing love and faithfulness. He has seen it in the past and he is confident that he will see it in the future, all because of what he knows about God's unchanging nature. God has promised to rescue His people "by His holiness" (Psalm 108:7 NLT). His very character assures that He will do what He has promised to do. He will come through. He will answer.

But in the midst of the storm it is easy to forget that God is faithful. When surrounded by trouble, it is tempting to doubt that God will keep His promises. Like David, we can begin to question God, "Have you reject us, O God" Will you no longer march with our armies?" (Psalm 108:11 NLT). It is during those times we must remind ourselves that God is faithful. He rescues. He restores. He may not do it according to our schedule or exactly as we would like it done, but He will do it. The temptation for us during what appears to be those seasons of inaction on God's part, is to turn to someone or something else for help. In many cases, we are tempted to trust ourselves for the solution we're looking for, in spite of our abysmal track record. But David knew better. He said, "all human help is useless" (Psalm 108:12b NLT). Anything we turn to as a substitute for God will eventually fail us. But with God's help we will do mighty things. This is a lesson only learned through experience. It can be taught, but it is rarely caught, until we are forced to experience it first hand. Relying on God takes guts. Trusting Him when everything in you says to take matters into your own hands takes faith. But as we grow in our understanding of His character, we become increasingly more confident and quick to place our trust in Him and Him alone.

Father, continue to teach me to trust You. Thank You that my heart is more confident in You today than it has ever been. I still have a long way to go, but You have never given me a reason to doubt You. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

Plenty Of Reasons To Praise Him. (Based on Psalm 103)

Psalm 103 – Day 2

I will bless the Lord from the depths of my very being, I will praise Him for His matchless reputation. I will bless Him and not forget all He has done for me. He forgives all my sins and heals me when I am sick, He pays my way out of the pit, and crowns me with love and compassion, He provides me with good things to eat and renews my strength so that I soar like an eagle, The Lord always does what is righteous and provides justice for the oppressed, Moses got to experience the character of God, so did the people of Israel, They discovered that the Lord is compassionate, gracious, patient and never runs out of mercy. He will not always accuse of our sins or remain angry with us forever, He hasn't done to us what we deserved or rewarded us in keeping with our sins, Instead, He has shown unbounding, unlimited mercy to those of us who fear Him. He has removed the guilt of our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. He shows compassion on those who hear Him like a father shows compassion on his children. He knows everything about us and understands that we are little more than dust. To God, our lifetimes are like grass, we flourish for a time like a flower in a field, Then the wind blows it away, and no one can even remember where it was in the first place. But the Lord constantly and consistently shows mercy to those who fear Him, And the generations that follow them get to experience His righteousness – As long as they keep His covenants and obey His commands. The Lord reigns on His throne from heaven and rules over everything and everyone, Even angels, in all their supernatural strength, praise the Lord, obeying His commands And doing everything that He says. Praise Him, all who are His warriors, carrying out His desires. Let everything and everyone He has made in every sphere of His kingdom praise Him!

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 103 – Day 1

"Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me." – Psalm 103:2 NLT

Gratefulness to God begins with an awareness of all that He has done for us. Failure to recognize God's activity in our lives makes it extremely unlikely that we will be grateful. It's hard to praise Him for all that He has done for us if we don't recognize it to begin with. In this Psalm, David seems to be reminding himself of God's daily activities in his life. He even says, "May I never forget the good things he does for me" (Psalm 103:2b NLT). Then he goes on to list all those "good things:"

• He forgives all my sins
• He heals all my diseases
• He redeems me from death
• He crowns me with love and tender mercies
• He fills my life with good things
• He renews my youth
• He gives righteousness and justice
• He is compassionate and merciful
• He is slow to get angry
• He is filled with unfailing love
• He will not constantly accuse us
• He doesn't remain angry with us forever
• He doesn't punish us for all our sins
• He doesn't deal harshly with us, as we deserve
• He shows us unfailing love that is immeasurable and unlimited
• He has removed our sins as for as the east is from the west
• He treats us like a father would his children
• He is tender and compassionate
• He knows and understands our weaknesses
• His love for us remains forever
• He rules over everything

That's a pretty extensive list, and it is not unique to David. Every single one of these "good things" are available to us as His children. They are just as true of my relationship with God as they were of David. The problem is that we don't tend to think about them. Instead, we dwell on all those things we believe God has failed to do for us. We concentrate on what we believe to be are unanswered prayers and unmet expectations. We may have some specific need we want addressed and, in our estimation, God has failed to deal with it adequately. In the meantime, we fail to recognize and appreciate His unfailing love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace He extends to us day after day – like clockwork.

One of the most amazing realizations David expresses in this Psalm is found in verse 10. The NET Bible translates it this way: "He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;  he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve." This is another way of looking at God's incredible mercy and grace. You see, mercy is God not giving you what you deserve (withheld punishment), and grace is God giving you what you don't deserve (unmerited favor). David understood that God had every right as God to deal with us harshly due to the sin in our lives, but He chose to show mercy instead. Rather than give us what we deserve, God gives us what we don't deserve – His grace. Until we come to grips with the reality of that statement, we will never truly praise God for who He is and what He has done. Christ's death on the cross is the ultimate expression of God's love and grace. His death made possible our forgiveness. His sacrifice allowed God to withhold our punishment because in dying in our place, Christ paid our debt in full. The righteous wrath of God was satisfied once and for all. As a result, God has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. We no longer stand before God as guilty and condemned, but as forgiven and redeemed. He sees us as righteous and holy.

So if we think about it, we have just as much to be grateful for as David did – even more. We have enjoyed the benefit of Christ's sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross. So, like David, we should be able to say, "Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name" (Psalm 103:1 NLT).

Father, the good things You have done for me are real and deserving of my gratitude and praise. I should be praising You for who You are and all that You have done and continue to do on a daily basis. Open my eyes and help me see Your activity in and around my life. Give me an increasing awareness of Your grace and mercy so that I will praise You more. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

I Will… (Based on Psalm 101)

Psalm 101 – Day 2

I will sing about Your mercy and just judgment, O God, I will praise You in song. I will be careful to live my whole life in a wise and understanding way, When will You come to rescue me? In the meantime, I will live my life with integrity even when I am home alone. I won't allow anything dishonest or questionable into my life, I will despise the things done by those who oppose You, Their actions will not become a part of my life. I will not tolerate perversity in my heart, I will not be known for having a wicked heart. I will not have anything to do with those who slander others, I will not put up with the haughty and arrogant. Instead, I will make believers the focus of my attention. I will spend my time with those whose lives model integrity, They will minister beside me and to me. But I won't have anything to do with those who can't be trusted, Whose words and lives fail to model integrity. I will make it my mission in life to remove all evil influence from my life, No one who loves wickedness will not be tolerated in my world.

I Will…

Psalm 101 – Day 1

"I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home." – Psalm 101:2 NLT

What will you do for God? For most of us, we have a long list of things we would like God to do for us. We have prayer requests we would like Him to answer. We have problems we would like Him to solve. We have people in our lives we would like Him to change. Conflicts we would like Him to resolve, illnesses we would like Him to heal, mysteries we would like Him to reveal, cloudy futures we would like Him to clear up. But what are we willing to do for Him? Over and over again in this short Psalm, David says, "I will…" David is expressing to God his willingness to praise Him, pursue a life of integrity, refuse to look at anything inappropriate, reject relationships with the wicked, not tolerate conceit and pride in his life, search out the faithful as his companions, and hire those whose lives are above reproach as his employees. What David was telling God was that he was serious about living a life that was set apart for God's use. He understood the concept of holiness. David knew that, as God's chosen servant, his life was to be distinctive and different. It was to be characterized by a different way of life. David was not doing these things in an attempt to please God or win brownie points with Him, but because they are characteristic of someone who shares God's heart. Back in Psalm 86, David had prayed, "Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Great me purity of heart, that I may honor you" (Psalm 86:11 NLT). In Psalm 101, David is describing what he has learned about God's way – His path for living life. It is a life characterized by integrity or wholeness. It is "sound" or "healthy" in all areas, not just in parts. There is no compartmentalization or hidden areas where God has no sway or influence. David says, "I will be careful to live a blameless life" He is not promising to live a perfect life, but a whole one. He is saying that he is going to do everything he can to live a life that will bring glory to God in every detail. David goes on to tell God, "I will lead a life of integrity in my own home." That word translated "integrity" shares the same root word as the one translated "blameless" earlier in the verse. Again, it has to do with wholeness and completeness. David is expressing his desire to live a holy, set-apart life in every area of his life – even at home, where no one else can see him.

There is a sense in which we will have to make difficult decisions if we want to live according to God's way. Like David, we will have to "refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar" (Psalm 101:3 NLT). Think about that the next time you turn on the TV or head to the movie theater. We will have to "hate all who deal crookedly" and "have nothing to do with them" (Psalm 101:3 NLT). David is not telling us to hate the lost, but to refuse to enjoy the companionship of those whose lives dishonor God. Do you enjoy the company of those who have no heart for the things of God more than you enjoy the company of believers? This is speaking more about having a love affair with their behavior than with the individuals themselves. Are the lifestyles of the godless more appealing to us than the lifestyles of the godly? David said, "I will search for faithful people to be my companions" (Psalm 101:6 NLT). He wanted to hang with the holy, not the heathen.

David wanted his life to be different, so he was willing to make changes to the way he lived. He sought new habits and new friends. He chose to give up old ways of doing things. He chose to surround himself with good influences. What are you willing to do for God? What steps are you willing to take to ensure that your life is marked by integrity or wholeness?

Father, You want all of my life, not just the parts that people see on Sunday morning. You desire that I would be willing to make changes to the way that I live. You have given me a new heart and the power to live differently, but I still have to choose to do so. And it begins with the daily decisions to live my whole life for You. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org

What Do I Want From God? (Based on Psalm 86)

Psalm 86 – Day 2

Turn Your ear to hear my prayer, O Lord; Please answer me, for I am in sad state and in need of help. Keep me safe, for I am faithful to You. O God, save me for I am Your servant and I trust in You. Show me mercy, O God, for I cry out to you daily. I am bearing my soul to You, O Lord; restore my joy! You are good, forgiving, and merciful to all those who call on You. Hear my prayers, O Lord, and pay attention to my requests for favor. Whenever I am in trouble, I call on You, because You hear and answer me. There is no other god like You, and no one does the things You do. Every people group on the face of the earth that You created will one day worship You, And will one day honor Your great name, O Lord. You alone are God and You do great and extraordinary things. Instruct me in the way You want me to live my life, And I will continually conduct myself according to Your truth. I want to reverence Your name with my whole heart. I will continually praise You with all my heart, O Lord my God; I will make Your great reputation known every day that I live. The mercy You have shown me is immeasurable, You have delivered me from the lowest, darkest place. The arrogant have stood against me, And terrifying men who have no place for You in their lives have sought to destroy me; But You are a gracious God, full of compassion, patient, And with more than enough mercy and truth to go around. Turn to me, show me mercy, support me by Your power, and save me. Show me a sign of Your favor, O Lord, So that those who hate me might see it and be disheartened. May they realize that You support and comfort me, O Lord.

Learning How To Really Live.

Psalm 86 – Day 1

"Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you." – Psalm 86:11 NLT

Most of us think we know what we want out of life. We have a general idea of the kinds of things it takes to get the most out of our time on this planet. And they usually include some or a lot of the following: Possessions, pleasure, prosperity, popularity, and power in some form or fashion. We have been sold a bill of goods that those things are what make life meaningful and bring joy and contentment. But David, as the king of Israel, had all of those things. He was powerful, rich, influential, and popular, but he had learned that all of it was meaningless and incapable of bringing him peace. He knew there was more to life and He knew that God was the source. So he prayed, "O Lord, teach me how you want me to live!" (Psalm 86:11 NET). The Hebrew word David uses conveys the idea of a journey or path. He is asking God to show me which road to take that will lead to the right destination. David has an end in mind, a destination. Possessions, pleasure, prosperity, popularity and power all lead somewhere, to a destination, but is it where God wants us to end up? Will they help us arrive at the place He has in mind for us? These things tend to lead us down the path that ends up in pride, self-sufficiency, enslavement, discontentment, greed, covetousness, jealousy, fear, anxiety, and so much more. So David asks God to point him in the right direction, show him the right path to take that will get him where he needs to be.

David continues his prayer: "…that I may live according to your truth." The Hebrew word translated "live" in this verse is actually a word that means literally "to walk" or figuratively "to live you life." David knows that living according to God's truth requires walking down the right path. We can't live according to God's will for our lives if we keep doing things our own way or pursuing our own agenda. David understands that it all begins by having God point us in the right direction. We have to know the right path if we are going to walk in the right direction and discover the right way to live. Over in the book of Ephesians, Paul writes to the Gentile believers there reminding them that, "You used to live (peripateo) in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world" (Ephesians 2:2 NLT). The Greek word peripateo means "to walk or live your life." He is telling them that there was a time when they lived just like the rest of the world. But now they know a different way of life, a different path to take. "Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life (peripateo) worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God" (Ephesians 4:1 NLT). Now they are to walk differently, according to God's road map for life. This path produces different results. It leads to a different place. It leads to holiness, humility, gentleness, peace, patience, kindness, and unity. It leads to selflessness, not selfishness.

Finally, David asks God, "Grant me purity of heart" (Psalm 86:11 NLT). The NET Bible translates this request, "make me wholeheartedly committed to you!" He is asking for an undivided, fully committed heart that will stick to the path that God has shown him. Possessions, pleasure, prosperity, popularity, and power will always be beckoning to us along the way, tempting us to step off of the path pointed out to us by God. We need God to equip us with a single-minded devotion and commitment to remain true to His path and not deviate. His path and His path alone will get us where we need to be. His path will allow us to reach the destination He has in store for us. Any other path will take us places we really don't want to go.

Father, keep me on Your path. Help me take my eyes off those other ways of life that can sometimes look so appealing. Constantly remind me that it is Your way that leads to life. It is Your path that is the only true path to joy, peace, contentment, hope, help, happiness, and eternal life. Amen

Ken Miller Grow Pastor & Minister to Men kenm@christchapelbc.org