Wiseheart.

Proverbs 4

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." – Proverbs 4:23 NLT

All this talk of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding could easily leave the impression that Solomon is obsessed with intelligence. It sounds like he is simply trying to encourage his son to get a good education, learn all that he can learn, and apply all that knowledge to living a good life. But Solomon is wise enough to know that there is more to this picture than mere intelligence or IQ. He is talking about a way of life that is based on much more than just book learning. All throughout the Proverbs Solomon contrasts two ways of life, to lifestyles. One is marked by wickedness and foolishness. The other is marked by wisdom and righteousness. But the difference isn't just about one person knowing more than the other. It is the fact that one knows God better than the other. At the end of the day, this is a heart issue. When Solomon pleads his son, and all young people, to "get wisdom" and "don't turn your back on wisdom," he is really telling them to pursue God, because He is the source of all wisdom.

In this Proverb, Solomon refers to "the way" multiple times. He describes life as a journey and we have choices regarding which path we will take as we live our lives. He says, "Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving" (Proverbs 4:14-15 NLT). He compares the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. One ends in light, the other in darkness. But then Solomon provides us with the key. He says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 14:23 NLT). It is our heart that will determine whether we go the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. It is our heart that will determine whether we seek God's way or the world's. So we need wise hearts, not brave hearts. We need heart knowledge, not head knowledge. God wants to renew our hearts and change the way we think, act, speak, and live. Without heart change, all efforts to live wisely will be short-lived and end up in nothing more than behavior modification. When Solomon says, "Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech" (Proverbs 4:24 NLT), he knows he is asking the impossible unless our hearts are changed by God. We will gravitate toward perverse talk and corrupt speech without wise hearts. And only God can give us wise hearts. Only God gives us the ability to make wise choices. Solomon closes his Proverb with these words: "Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil" (Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT). Without a wise heart, that is impossible. God gives us the capacity to know right from wrong, good from evil. He equips us with not only the knowledge to make good choices, but the ability to do so. He changes our hearts. Head knowledge is not enough. Heart knowledge is what we need. Wise hearts and brave souls – men and women living life according to God's terms and in the power of God's Spirit.

Father, give us wise hearts. Change us from the inside out. Don't let us be satisfied with head knowledge. I don't want to just know about You, I want to really know You so that I might live in a way that pleases You. Amen

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

A Different Path.

Proverbs 3

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

The Proverbs are full of comparisons, juxtapositions, and contrasts. There is wisdom and foolishness, wickedness and righteousness, and the God-follower and the self-worshiper. These sayings of Solomon paint a vivid picture that contrasts the life of the man who seeks after God and the man who turns his back on God, setting himself up as the master of his own fate and the captain of his soul. Solomon writes from the perspective of a father appealing to his child, begging his son to make attaining wisdom and understanding his highest priority. But in doing so, Solomon is not suggesting that his son pursue academic knowledge. He is not encouraging the pursuit of human reason or head-knowledge. He is spurring on his son to pursue God – the sole source of all wisdom, knowledge, reason, and common sense. Getting to know God is the goal, not gaining wisdom for wisdom's sake. Solomon tells his son, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5 NLT). How easy it is for each of us to trust in anything and everything, but God. Rather than trust God, we turn to our own limited understanding and attempt to explain the complexities of life and solve the difficulties that come with living life on this planet. If we lack joy, we attempt to find it through means made possible through this world. If we feel unloved, we seek satisfaction and significance through such avenues as the pursuit of pleasure or promiscuity. We seek – but we tend to seek in the wrong places.

But Solomon told his son, "Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take" (Proverbs 3:6 NLT). He reminds his son that wisdom brings joy, is profitable, valuable, precious, and is the key to long life. But it only comes from one source – God. Wisdom, true wisdom, flows from God. It is available nowhere else but from God. Our ability to live life on this planet well is dependent upon the wisdom and understanding that God alone provides. But it comes from a relationship, not just a book. I learn wisdom from watching and coming to know God, not just by reading about Him. Wisdom is part of who God is. It is His very character. Wisdom, understanding and knowledge do not exist apart from God. What the world offers is a cheap substitute. At their core, wisdom and understanding are spiritual resources, not academic or cerebral. They flow from a right relationship with God. Solomon tells us, "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline" (Proverbs 1:7 NLT). The fool wants nothing to do with God. He desires wisdom and understanding, but doesn't want the relationship with God necessary to have them. He does not want the loving discipline that also comes from God that are required to truly learn wisdom and understanding. But those who long to have a relationship with God will find that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are the byproducts of their pursuit of God.

Father, don't let me make wisdom and understanding the focus of my pursuit. Help me keep You as my sole desire. Those things will come as I grow in my knowledge of and love for You. Amen

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

Living Life In 4D.

Proverbs 2

"Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go." – Proverbs 2:5 NLT

Life can be hard. Decisions have to be made. Difficulties must be dealt with. Sometimes it is hard to know what to do or how to respond. We are bombarded by bad advice and the well-meaning counsel of friends who are just as confused as we are. So what are we to do? Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, encourages us to "cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures" (Proverbs 2:4 NLT). It would appear that Solomon expected us to put in a fair amount of effort into the process. He seems to believe that we must want insight and understanding bad enough that we would expend some energy in order to get them. Cry out! Ask! Search! Seek! How badly do we want these things? How hard are we willing to pursue them until we find them?

As we go through life we encounter our desperate need for insight, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge.This world can be a confusing place. We don't always know what to do. So the first step seems to be a recognition of our deficiencies. We have to come to an understanding of our lack of understanding. We are not the brightest bulbs in the box. But the sad truth seems to be that we don't usually reach this point of awareness until something difficult happens in our lives that leaves us at a loss. It is in those times of desperation that we tend to turn to God, and that is the key – we have to turn to the source. Solomon makes it clear that insight and understanding are only available from one source and that is God. When we cry out, ask, search and seek from Him, we are told that we will "understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:5 NLT). It is God who grants wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He alone can equip us with much-needed common sense, integrity, and the ability to understand what is just, right and fair. In other words, God gives us discernment, direction, discipline and discretion. He provides us with all we need to live life on this planet wisely, safely, and righteously. Rather than live according to the standards of this world. we learn to live God's way. We learn to think like He thinks, love what He loves, hate what He hates, and view life from His perspective. This life can be hard, but God has given us everything we need to not only survive, but thrive. We can live wise lives, marked by discernment, direction, discipline and discretion. He will keep us on the right path. He will help us make wise decisions. He will protect us from the temptation of this world. He will give us the ability to see life from His perspective. But first we must come to the realization that we need what He has. We must desire Hisunderstanding, knowledge, insight and wisdom more than anything else in the world. Then we must seek after it diligently, eagerly, and regularly.

Father, there is no reason we should struggle in this world with a lack of discernment, direction, discipline and discretion. You provide all four and have made them readily available to us through Your Word, Your Spirit and Your Body. Give us a growing desire to know what You know, to understand life as You understand it, and to live according to Your wise standards. Amen

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

I Can't Stop Talking About God. (Based on Psalm 145)

Psalm 145 – Day 2

I will hold You in high esteem, my God and my King, And I will bow in reverence to Your reputation forever! I will bend my knees in praise to you every day, I will boast of Your reputation forever and ever. You are great, O Lord, and extremely praiseworthy. The true extent of Your greatness is beyond our comprehension. One generation will praise Your works to the next, And tell them of Your strength. I will speak of the incredible splendor of Your majesty, And of Your extraordinary works. They will tell of Your fear-inducing, awe-inspiring acts, And I will recount Your greatness. They'll overflow with memories of Your great goodness, And be overcome by Your righteousness. You are gracious and compassionate, Slow to get angry and overflowing with mercy. You show Your goodness to everyone and extend mercy to Your entire creation. Everything You've made will end up praising You, O Lord, And those who are faithful to You will bow down before You. They will talk about the glory of Your reign over them and of Your great power. They will make known to the next generation Your might acts, And the glory of living under Your righteous rule. Yours is a kingdom that will never end, and Your rule outlasts the generations. You support all who fall and lift up all who are bent down and burdened. Everyone looks to You and You provide what they need at just the right time. You open Your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature. You are right in everything that You do, and always holy. You are never far from those who call on You, who call on You in faithfulness. You will satisfy those who fear You, hearing their cry and rescuing them. All those who love You, You will keep safe, but those who hate You will be destroyed. I will declare publicly my thanksgiving to You, So that all mankind might bless Your holy name forever.

Sharing What We Know About God.

Psalm 145 – Day 1

"Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power." – Psalm 145:4 NLT

Six months ago, we started this journey through the Psalms of David. Our goal was to discover the character of God through the pen of David. We wanted to see what David understood about his God and how it impacted the way he lived his life. And Psalm 145 seems like a perfect way to wrap up this series. In it, David praises the greatness of God. He says, "I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness" (Psalm 145:2-3 NLT). David is blown away by the greatness of God and wants everyone to know. He is not content to internalize his thoughts about God and he expects everyone to "share the story of your wonderful goodness" (Psalms 145:7 NLT). David's praise of God was not merely academic or rote. What he knew about God, he knew from experience. He had seen these attributes or characteristics of God lived out in his own life, day after day. He had seen God's power, experienced His mercy and grace, felt His compassion, witnesses His mighty acts with his own eyes, and learned that God is always right in everything he does. David knew what the Scriptures had to say about God, but his awareness of God's unfailing love, truthfulness, faithfulness, righteousness, compassion, mercy and grace came from his own personal interactions with God in daily life.

When David wrote, "Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power" (Psalm 145:4 NLT), he wasn't suggesting that they simply recount and retell the stories they had heard from their parent's experiences in the wilderness. Many of us can tell stories from the Bible that illustrate God's greatness, but how many of us can share personal encounters with God that speak of His goodness, greatness, love, and power? There is a huge difference between knowing about someone and getting to really know someone. I may know a lot about Abraham Lincoln, but it all comes from books and from the perspective of others. But I know my wife. I know here because I spend time with her and our lives are deeply interactive and entwined. We spend time together talking, sharing, interfacing, and impacting the lives of one another. The same should be true of my relationship with God. Praise for God should be personal and intimate. It should come from experience. David had come to know God because he had spent time with God. He had watched God work in and around his life, caring for him, providing for him, protecting him, correcting him, and revealing Himself to him. David had a lot to praise God for. When he spoke of God's wonderful goodness, mighty acts, awe-inspiring deeds, unfailing love, and greatness, he was speaking from experience. He knew what he was talking about. And nobody could argue with him. So what will we have to tell the next generation concerning the mighty acts and power of God? What stories will we tell to illustrate our understanding of His greatness and goodness? Our lack of stories are not a reflection on God or an indication of His absence in our lives, but are simply an indication of our lack of dependence on Him. We have little to praise Him for because we have given Him few opportunities to work in our lives. We have become self-sufficient and have attempted to run our own lives according to our own plans. But David reminds us, "The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him" (Psalm 145:18-20 NLT).

Father, may we truly have something great to share with the next generation. May we have stories to tell of your greatness and goodness because we have learned to wait on and rely on You. Amen

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

It's Good To Know God. (Based on Psalm 144)

Psalm 144 – Day 2

I get down on my knees in celebration of the Lord, my rock, He personally trains me for battle, equipping me to do battle. He is who I turn to for mercy, protection, refuge, deliverance from trouble, He is my shield in battle, and I confidently trust Him to subdue my enemies in battle. Lord, what is man, that You bother to even acknowledge his existence? Or the nations, that You give them any consideration? Man is like a wisp of wind to You, his days are like a shadow that vanishes before Your eyes. Lower heaven and come down, touch the mountains and make them erupt! Send lightning, scattering the bolts around like arrows of destruction. Reach down from on high, deliver me from the deep water, from the hands of pagan nations. Whose words are full of lies and whose actions are always deceitful. I will make up a brand new song celebrating You, O God! I will sing praises to You using my favorite instrument. I will sing of the salvation You bring to kings, How You delivered me, David, Your servant, from the sword. Separate me and deliver me from these foreign nations, From all their lies and deception. That our sons may grow to full height, like a plant, That our daughters may be like corner stones in a beautiful palace. That our storehouses may be full, that our sheep may multiply, filling our pastures. That our oxen will be strong to do labor, our walls will keep us safe, and our people will stay content. People who find themselves in those circumstances will be happy, But their happiness will be because God is their Lord!

Who Are We Compared To You?

Psalm 144 – Day 1

"O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?" – Psalm 144:3 NLT

Perspective can be an illusive thing. It is so easy to have a one-dimensional view of life and the circumstances surrounding it. We can end up seeing things from our point of view alone, and lose sight of reality. We can easily view ourselves as somehow special, our talents as truly unique, and our inherent value as greater than it really is. God provides perspective to life. He is to be the focal point to all of life and all meaning. He is the creator and sustainer of life. The world exists for Him, not the other way around. He is one who came up with the idea of mankind and then made it happen. David was blown away that this all-powerful God would even bother to waste a single second dealing with the likes of men. The Message paraphrases verse three quite clearly and frankly: "I wonder why you care, GOD – why do you bother with us at all?"

David had a healthy perspective of life because he had an accurate view of God. He understood the greatness of God was and the pitifully powerless condition of man. David lived dependent on God – gladly and willingly. He viewed God as his rock – his source of stability and strength. He saw God as his personal trainer and reliable ally. When David ran into trouble, God was who David ran to for help, hope and healing. He didn't get too full of himself or allow his position, possessions or power to warp his perspective on life. He knew he needed God – at all times and in every way. All his strength came from God. All his victories were due to God. His rescue from trouble was totally up to God. His success or failure was in God's hands. His present prosperity and future posterity were up to God. Which is why he could say, "Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15 NLT). Living with a clear perspective of God and life is essential to experiencing joy. When we understand just who God is, we will gladly place all ourhope on Him, and refuse to see ourselves as more than what we are – mere mortals. A God-focused perspective can bring peace even in the midst of difficulty, hope in the face of heartache, confidence even when surrounded by confusion and chaos. A healthy perspective of God gives us a healthy view of life.

Father, it is amazing that You, the God of the universe, would take time to even think about me, a mere man. But You do. You created me, care for me, sent Your Son to die for me and You have a plan that includes me. You are great, powerful, holy, sinless, righteous, and yet You choose to care for me. Thank You! Amen

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

A Prayer For Direction, Not Just Deliverance. (Based on Psalm 143)

Psalm 143 – Day 2

Hear my prayer, O Lord, Listen attentively to my cries for help! Answer because of Your faithfulness and righteousness. Whatever You do, don't pass judgment on me, Because there's not a man alive who could pass that test. I am calling to You because my enemies constantly pursue me, The grind my life into the ground, forcing me to live in the dark like a dead man. As a result, my spirit is weak within me, my heart is barren and lonely. But I can recall the past, and I think about all those things You have done; I reflect on all the things You have done with Your hands. So I reach out to You, my soul thirsts for You, like dry land longs for rain. Please answer me quickly, O Lord, because my spirit is fading fast, Don't turn Your back on me or I am as good as dead. Let me tell others about Your unfailing love when I wake up in the morning, Because I trust in You. Show me the way in which You want me to live my life, Because I am bearing my soul to You. Rescue me from my enemies O Lord, I run to You for protection. Teach me to do what pleases You, because You are my God; By Your good Spirit, lead me to a place marked by righteousness. For the sake of Your reputation, revive me! For the sake of Your righteousness, deliver my soul out of trouble. And for the sake of Your unfailing love, destroy my enemies, Put an end to all those who harass my soul, Because I am Your servant.

Show Me Where To Walk.

Psalm 143 – Day 1

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." – Psalm 143:8 NLT

Prayer is an interesting activity. When we pray, we are oftentimes expressing to God what we want done. We are sharing our solutions to our own problems. In many cases, we treat God as some kind of cosmic Genie in the sky, except this Genie doesn't limit our wishes to just three. We can go to Him on a constant basis with requests of all kinds. Or so it would seem. But the reality is that prayer requires an understanding of who God is and what His character is like. To ask God to do something that is not in His nature or that goes against His will would be ridiculous. But we do it all the same. God wants us to express our needs to Him, but I am not so sure that God needs help with the solution. Our prayers should be an expression of our trust and dependence on God. We got to Him because we know that He is the only one who can help. And He will help, but on His own terms and according to His own timing.

I find it interesting that David prayed quite openly and honestly with God in this Psalm. He shared that he was surrounded by enemies. He told God about his struggle with depression and his being paralyzed by fear. He asks God for rescue. He asks Him to preserve his life and bring him out of his distress. He even asked God to silence his enemies and to destroy all his foes. But the more enlightening thing was that David seemed to keep His requests consistent with what he knew about God. He appealed to God's mercy. He asked God to answer because he knew God to be faithful and righteous. He knew that nothing he was asking of God was too great for Him, because he had heard about all the great things God had done in the past. He knew that his God was loving and would listen to him when he called to Him. Along with prayer for his problems, David asks God to "let me hear of your unfailing love each morning for I am trusting in you" (Psalm 143:8 NLT). What an interesting choice of words. He seems to be asking God to preserve him through the night and cause him to wake up to a renewed recognition of God's unfailing love and mercy. He will "hear" of God's love each morning. Others will be talking about it because God's intervention in David's life will be visible for all to see. It will be clear to all that this was a "God-thing." Because David is trusting in God. Then David asks God to show him where to walk. He isn't asking for literal directions, but is asking God to show him the manner in which he should live his daily life. He wants to know how to be a good king, a righteous father, a godly husband. He goes on to ask God to "teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing" (Psalm 143:10 NLT). He is asking God to train him to obey. David wasn't just asking God to do thing for him, but he was passionate about learning to do what pleases God. He wanted to live a life in obedience to and dependence on God. Is that what we want? Is that what we pray and long for. David wanted rescue so that he could serve God. He wanted relief from trials and troubles, so he could spend more time worshiping and less time worrying. But he also knew that God would use those very same trials and troubles to reveal Himself to David through the display of His power, presence, love, mercy, and faithfulness. David trusted God. Do we?

Father, it is so easy for me to just come to You with my requests, but fail to want to get to know You. I want to hear of your unfailing love every morning. I want to wake up to a renewed realization of Your mercy and grace each day. I want You to teach me to do Your will, not mine. I want You to show me how to live my life in increasing obedience and dependence on You. You could give me all I ask for, but if I miss out on knowing You, I lose. Amen

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

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.