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How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Psalm 139:17

How important is God’s word? How critical and integrated is it with your life?

I find that there are certainly times when I take it on myself to figure things out. And I don’t mean basic worldly problems — like how to get from here to Milwaukee or change the tire on a car — because of course the Bible will be silent on that. I’m referring to more fundamental and big life questions. What kind of husband do I want to be? What is my vocation? How should I think about war? What about welfare for the poor?

While the Bible isn’t generally written in Q & A format, it does provide insights into these issues. We just have to choose to seek it. Which means we have to value it.

I still struggle with this. I take it on myself to figure it out. Google is often my first source, not God’s word.

How about you? How important are God’s thoughts to you?

Be God’s — every day.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”
Psalm 122:6-7

When we gather for worship, we often “go to church.” That worship time is then filled with singing, learning, fellowship, and prayer. Those prayers generally are about people, whether it is those around us or elsewhere in the world.

How often do we pray for the church itself? The community of people, and the institution?

There is great unrest around the church, whether it is in a local congregation, a regional governing body, or as a national or global denomination. Pray for peace among the community of believers.

Be God’s — every day.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire- but my ears you have opened- burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Psalm 40:6

This is some serious New Testament theology… Written years before Jesus was born and made this premise clear. David was prophetic in his vision of what being a Christian would become — less about the sacrifice we make to God and more about something else.

These days, years after Jesus’ death and with the benefit of the New Testament to make it clear, we can get caught up in living out an Old Testament view of faith. We become more about rules and regulations than we do about the grace of God. It isn’t about what we offer — it’s about what He offered.

What are the essentials of your faith? Do you operate more with rules and regulations? Do you get caught up in the “thou shall nots” more than you become engaged by the “you musts”?

We all do sometimes.

If you sense that happening, remember that Jesus came to serve and save more than he came to regulate.

Be God’s — every day.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Psalm 32:8

I’m coming to an important career crossroad. It’s been coming for a while, actually, but the “coming” time is now weeks/days away rather than months away. Perhaps more importantly is that a new opportunity has presented itself that makes the implications of this crossroad very clear.

As with all decisions, there are pros and cons and risks and upside. I think that’s the easy part — to denominate the differences of a decision and the good/bad parts. The hard part is deciding what to do. With all the advantages and concerns known… What to do?

Times like this make “discernment” very real. How do I listen for the will of God? How boldly will I step forward and not look back, knowing God is guiding and watching… while still wondering if I heard his guidance correctly? How will God’s counsel affect my wife… and is she hearing the same guidance I am?

Listening for God’s will and trusting in him is easy… Until it means something big. Then it becomes hard.

Pray for me and my decision. If you have any stories to share about how you’ve heard God directing your career, I’d love to hear them.

Be God’s — every day.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3

“I don’t know.”

That simple statement is perhaps both the most comforting and most frustrating reality in Christianity.

It is certainly frustrating, particularly when pressed by non-believers or when trying to wrestle with a specific theological issue. We are all trained to press for answers, and coming to an “it’s a mystery” conclusion is not fulfilling. In fact, many non-believers will use this as an excuse to entrench in their disbelief.

Despite this frustration, there is hope. It’s not a personal failing to not be able to fully answer every question about God. It’s ok if some questions end in mystery. As Michael Wittmer wrote in Christ Alone, if as you dig in to a theological question you find there isn’t a definitive answer, that surely means you are talking about God.

Because we have an all-powerful and all-knowing God, and we ourselves are limited in power and knowledge, there are aspects of God we will never understand. I pray that I can come to embrace that mystery rather than be frustrated by it.

Praise God for what he is… Even (especially?) the things we don’t understand!

Be God’s — every day.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2

Where do you go in times of trouble? Do you run to God? Or do you hide from God?

I admit, I am a “figure it out” kind of guy when times get tough. I take the burden and try to bear it on my own. I may ask God for help, but more often than not I don’t fully rely on God to deliver me from trouble.

I don’t think I’m alone in this. Many of us try to take on our problems directly, failing to take shelter in God’s arms. He is there — our Rock, a steadying force in the midst of the storm. He is not going anywhere.

Run to God in times of need. He is there.

Be God’s — every day.

I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
Psalm 119:44-45

The word “law” is often seen in a certain negative way. Laws are restrictions. Things we can’t do. The “thou shall nots” that if violated lead to certain doom.

We often forget that even those restrictive laws are established to enable the freedom and safety of others. Sure, a ticket for an unpaid parking meter might be different… But in general our laws are about safety, and all law in our country is rooted in the fundamental freedoms we have, as established in the Bill of Rights.

The author of this Psalm is seeing God’s law in this liberating, right-giving way. Sure, there are responsibilities associated with the Law. But those responsibilities come as part of the great gift of peace that God’s love provides.

Think about the freedom that following God’s law provides. Let that change you! Recognize the joy we have in being God’s people!

Be God’s — every day.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22

I was in a discussion group earlier this week, learning more about heaven, hell, and salvation. One person made a comment about how knowing Jesus Christ gives you a taste of heaven here on earth. She identified that having a relationship with Jesus sets us free, and there is a “sweetness” to that. Non-believers are missing out on something now, not just missing out on eternal life.

I admit it — at first I may have rolled my eyes, thinking that this was an oversimplification of faith. Does the act of having faith magically make life better? If it were that transparent and easy, wouldn’t non-believers say “Huh, they got a sweet deal” and jump on the Jesus train?

The more I think about it, though, the more I can see the validity of this perspective. Having faith in God means that we trust him in times of need. It means we don’t have to do it alone. It means that in dark times, we have hope for a better future.

That confidence and hope makes a practical difference in how we handle difficult times, and does in fact have a sweetness to it. Our days can be brighter because of how we feel about tomorrow.

Know that God is with you, loves you, and cares for you. He will guide you in times of need, so have hope for a greater tomorrow. Feel the sweetness of his presence in your life.

Be God’s — every day.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psalm 66:18

To “cherish” something is to value it, protect it, love it, or hold it dear to you. It is something important that you focus on and organize around.

We are all sinful people, and we all will continue to struggle with this sinful nature. How we respond to sin, though, remains with our control. We can take joy in our sin — cherish it, even — and continue to turn away from God. If so, this Psalm suggests that God will respond to you differently because of it.

Alternatively, we can recognize our sin as wrong, ask for forgiveness, and cherish the love shown to us by our Lord and Savior.

We can’t choose to stop sinning (fully), but we can choose to not love and protect that sin. We can choose to cherish God and what he blesses us with, not the sin that pulls us away from him.

Be God’s — every day.

Give thanks to the lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1

This Psalm repeats the line over and over: “His love endures forever.” The King James version I have says “His mercy endures forever.” This refrain occurs after each line, as the author steps though a history of God as creator, redeemer, leader, conqueror, and deliverer.

This is God’s story: he provides, we fail, he brings us back. Over and over again, this is the Old Testament message. Christ’s life and death show this theme as well. Through God’s love, there is rebirth.

For thousands of years, God has watched his people fail. He provides, we fail. Some of these failures were long-lasting, really big failures. Yet his love endures forever, and he brings us back into the fold.

When you think about the awesome size of this compassion and mercy, it’s easy to see where Rob Bell gets his argument that “Love Wins” and all people have the opportunity to be redeemed. It’s hard to imagine a God who wouldn’t give a non-believer a second chance as well. Is their “failure” to recognize God’s call while on earth so much worse than all of the failures of God’s chosen people?

It is wonderful to know that God’s love is there — when we fail, he brings us back. Give thanks to God for that!

Be God’s — every day.