Month: May 2012

Psalm 68 – Day 1

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You’re In Good Hands.

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.” – Psalm 68:19 NLT

What has become an easily recognizable tagline for an insurance company could more readily be said of God. You’re in good hands with … God. David reminds us that our God carries us each and every day. He paints the picture of a shepherd carrying a sheep in his arms, protecting it, providing for it, and ensuring that it gets where it needs to go. Our great God carries us. What a picture of intimacy and love, but what a reminder of God’s matchless power. In this Psalm, David speaks of God’s great power, the same power that freed the Israelites from Egypt, led them to the Promised Land, and conquered the enemies living there. This great, majestic, powerful God is also “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows,” who “places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoner free and gives them joy” (Psalm 68:5-6 NLT). He is not a distant deity who reigns from some unseen place and dispenses justice and judgment like some invisible judge. He is with us and for us. From the moment He chose Abram to be the father of the Hebrew nation, God has lived in and among men. Throughout the wilderness wandering years, God traveled with the people of Israel, leading the way, taking the form of a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. They always knew He was with them. When He instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness, He came to dwell within the Holy of Holies, a constant reminder of His presence and power. Later, God’s presence would fill the Holy of Holies of the new Temple constructed by Solomon. “Now the Lord will live among us there” (Psalm 68:18 NLT). God chose to dwell among men. He made His presence known and displayed His power among them. “God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people” (Psalm 68:35 NLT).

We are in good hands with God. He is powerful, but also gentle. He is majestic, but also intimate. He delivers judgment with a firm hand, but He also metes out justice with tender mercy. He has the power to destroy our enemies, and the compassion to forgive us of our sins. He can reign down judgment, but also deliver rain to restore a dry land. Our God is great, but this great God cares for us. That should blow us away. It should cause us to respond in praise, prayer, gratitude, joy, hope and worship. “Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms” (Psalms 68:19 NLT).

Father, thank You for this much-needed reminder. I am in Your arms, therefore I am safe. You are taking me where I need to go. You are protecting me at all times. You are healing me, holding me and helping me. I have nothing to fear, but much to be grateful for. Amen

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

Psalm 67 – Day 2

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Making His Ways Known.
(Based on Psalm 67)

God, I ask You to show mercy on us and bless us,
To look down on us and show us Your favor.
That the world might see Your true character as You work through us,
Your salvation revealed to a watching world.
Cause the nations of the world to confess Your greatness, O God,
Give them plenty of reasons to praise You.
Cause the people of the world to rejoice,
Shouting joyfully as they see You work among them.
For You judge righteously, leading and guiding all those who live on the earth.
Give Your people cause to praise You, O God,
Give them plenty of reasons to praise You!
Just as the earth faithfully produces crops for us,
So our God will bless us.
He will bless us,
And everyone living on the earth will learn to honor, fear, and respect Him.

Psalm 67 – Day 1

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Making God Known.

“May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.” – Psalm 67:2 NLT

This ought to be the daily prayer of every child of God. There should be a deep desire in each and every one of us that God would reveal Himself, make Himself known, to every person that walks the face of the earth. The Scriptures clearly teach that God is revealed through His creation. ” For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Revelation 1:20 NLT). God’s power and character are revealed in His creation. But those same qualities should be revealed in us as human beings – the pinnacle of His creation. After all, we are made in His image. And those of us who have been redeemed by the death of His Son and given the indwelling presence of His Spirit should be be daily illustrations of His power and character. Others should be able to see Him at work in us and around us.

David prays, “May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.” Interestingly, David uses the word, “ways,” which in the Hebrew can mean a journey, path, or course of life. It can also refer to the habits or manner in which one performs his or her duties. It seems that David is referring to the “way” in which God relates to His people – through His saving power. That is what David wants the world to see. The NET Bible notes that David’s use of that specific word “refers here to God’s characteristic behavior, more specifically, to the way he typically saves his people.” David wants the world to be able to see God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, kindness and saving power as He rescues His people. Of course, behind this request is a desire to be saved by God. David wants to see God work in his own life and in the lives of the people of God. He realizes that when the nations see the kind of God the people of Israel serve, they will end up praising Him, too. They will be able to see that He rules with justice, that He is powerful, and that He uses that power to care for those who worship Him.

We should desire for God to make Himself known through us. But think about that. That means we should be ready and willing to find ourselves in situations in which we HAVE TO rely on God for salvation. We have to be willing to suffer circumstances in which God can reveal His saving power in our lives. Had the Israelites not found themselves at the Red Sea with the army of Egypt bearing down on them, they would never have witnessed the saving power of God. Their difficulty proved to be an opportunity to witness the “ways” of God. Had David not found himself on the lamb with a bounty on his head, running from King Saul, he would never have known the “ways” of God. The truth is, the unwanted ways in which our lives sometimes go are exactly where God wants us so that He can reveal His “ways” through us and to us. God is making Himself known throughout the world, and He is doing it through us, His people. We are to be revealers of His power, mercy, grace, and saving power.

Father, make Yourself known through me today. Use the circumstances of my life to reveal Your ways to the world around me. May Your saving power be evident to everyone who sees me today. Amen

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

Psalm 66 – Day 2

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Prayer = Praise.
(Based on Psalm 66)

Shout joyfully in praise to God, everybody and everything on earth!
Sing songs about the glory of His reputation,
And when you do it, make your praise of Him glorious and abundant.
Tell Him how awe-inspiring His deeds are,
And that His great power causes His enemies to cringe before Him.
Sing, “Everyone and everything on earth will bow down before You,
And one day they will all sing Your praises.”
Come and consider all that God does,
What He does among men is both awe-inspiring and fear-producing.
He turned an uncrossable sea into dry land so the Israelites could pass through.
The result was a lot of rejoicing!
His power allows Him to rule for all time – uninterrupted,
He constantly keeps watch over the nations of the earth,
So those who rebel against Him have no business getting full of themselves.
As His people, it is our job to bless Him and make His praises known.
He is the one who gives us life and preserves us,
He keeps us from falling.
O God, You have tried us and proved us,
You have refined us like silver is refined.
You were with us when we ended up in the trap,
It was Your idea to use this pressure in our lives.
You allowed others to lord it over us,
We passed through fire and water,
But in the end, You brought us into a better place.
So I will worship You and fulfill all my commitments to You.
Every promise I made to You when I was in trouble, I will keep.
I will offer up to You the sacrifices You require, whatever the cost.
If You fear God and love Him, come and listen to all I have to say about Him,
Come listen to what He has done in my life.
I cried out to Him for help, and ended up praising Him for what He did.
But unconfessed sin in my life would have prevented that from happening.
But God not only heard me, He answered me.
So I bless and praise God who did not reject my prayer
Or withhold His mercy from me.

Psalm 66 – Day 1

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Keeping Your Testimony Current.

“Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” – Psalm 66:16 NLT

What has God done for you lately? That should be an easy question for any Christ-follower to answer. Because the reality is, God is acting on our behalf each and every day in countless ways. But the sad truth is that we oftentimes fail to see His hand in our lives. Other times we simply fail to ask for God’s assistance with the affairs of life. We go it alone. We muddle on through life, attempting to take on all our problems on our own, ignoring the ready availability of His power, grace and mercy. For many of us, our testimony is a dusty, faded photograph that captures some event that happened years ago in our lives. It was momentous, life-changing and an unforgettable experience, but it is still a distant memory. Much time has  passed since our conversion experience. We have lived more years than we would like to remember, experienced the ups and downs of life, and, hopefully, grown in our knowledge and understanding of God. But if someone walked up and asked us what God had done for us lately, what would we have to say? How would we answer?

For David, it would have been a simple question and he would have had a ready response. He said, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me” (Psalm 66:16 NLT). David had a story to tell, a recollection to recount, of what God had done in his life. And as we have worked our way through the Psalms of David, we have seen plenty of proof that David had ample stories to share of God’s goodness, grace, mercy, power and provision. God was actively involved in David’s life. His response to the question, “What has God done for you lately?,” would probably have been, “How much time do you have?” In this Psalm David talks of the glory of God’s name. He expresses how glorious God is. He exclaims, “How awesome are your deeds!” (Psalm 66:3 NLT). He invites others to “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5 NLT). David can recount what God has done in the past for His people. But David can also share what God has done more recently in his own life. And that is the story most people want and need to hear. A lost and dying world is looking for a living, active God who is engaged on a daily basis with those who worship Him. Our salvation story is significant, don’t misunderstand me. But God didn’t stop saving us at conversion. He is still redeeming, rescuing, refining and restoring us each and every day of our lives. He is disciplining us, teaching us, constantly forgiving us, leading and directing us, healing and helping us, and daily molding us into the likeness of His Son. Like David, we should be able to say, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” We are proof of God’s presence. Our daily lives should be evidence of His love, grace, mercy, power, forgiveness and, ultimately, of His existence. So what has God done for you lately? Great! Now go tell someone.

Father, You have given me ample stories to tell of Your presence in my life. Forgive me for not telling others. You have proven Yourself faithful to me time and time again, but I don’t always pass that news along to those around me. Place in me a growing desire to sing Your praises to all those willing to listen. Create in me a desire to talk You up on a consistent basis. May I become increasingly more a satisfied customer – the best advertising of Your power, presence and provision. Amen

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

Psalm 65 – Day 2

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The Bountiful Blessings of God.
(Based on Psalm 65)

My praise waits silently, expectantly on You, O God,
And I will fulfill all my vows to You.
You are the one who hears and answers prayers,
So all men must come to You eventually.
Your words regarding my sins are too much for me,
But You make atonement for all my transgressions against You!
Happy is the man You choose to offer a relationship with You,
Who You allow to stand in Your presence.
The goodness that is found where You are will satisfy each and every one of us,
Even in the house of God.
You prove You are our salvation every day by awe-inspiring acts of justice,
You are the hope of all mankind, whether they are on the land or the sea.
The mountains are an exhibition of Your great power,
You can control and even calm the raging waters of the oceans,
And you can handle the raging multitudes just as easily.
Even men living in the remotest parts of the world are awed by Your signs,
As they rejoice in the beauty of Your sunrises and sunsets.
You care for the earth, providing it with rain,
Enriching it with the rivers You have created.
You provide men with grain and corn, which You have prepared for them.
You even water the fields that men have prepared,
Softening the soil and causing the crops to grow.
You crown the year with abundance,
And leave blessing everywhere You go.
From meadows in the middle of nowhere to remote mountaintops,
Your blessings rain down.
The pastures are clothed with flocks,
The valleys are covered over with corn,
Visually shouting Your praises and reflecting the joy of Your goodness.

Psalm 65 – Day 1

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As If Forgiveness Was Not Enough.

“Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.” – Psalm 65:3 NLT

Sinfulness is the one characteristic we all share as human beings. And forgiveness from our sins is the one thing we all must receive from God if we are to live in harmony with Him. In order for us to have a right relationship with God, our sin problem had to be taken care of. The penalty for our sin – death – had to be paid in full. And God took care of it by sending His Son to die in our place on the cross. Because of Jesus’ substitutionary death on the cross for us, we had our sin payment paid in full. And not only the sins of the past, but the sins yet to be committed. That is why we can bring any sin to Him and receive forgiveness. Like David, we can feel overwhelmed by our sin and still receive forgiveness from God. All we need to do is confess them – admit that what we have done is sin against Him. And the amazing thing is that God forgives us each and every time.

But as amazing as forgiveness of sin is, we can sometimes forget that God’s mercy shows up in our lives in so many other ways that we take for granted. David reminds us that God not only forgives our sins, He answers our prayers. “You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds” (Psalm 65:5 NLT). We pray. God answers. And He answers according to His power. God does great and mighty things when we pray and place ourselves at His mercy. But that’s not all. God has surrounded with signs of His power. The mountains and the oceans, the rising and setting sun, the rain and the rivers. The way He can turn a dry valley into a lush pasture, providing food for a flock of grazing sheep. His faithfulness in causing crops to grow and the earth to provide much-needed resources for life to continue on this planet. When David saw all that God did on a daily basis for mankind, he said, “you inspire shouts of joy!” (Psalm 65:8 NLT). You would think forgiveness of sin and the gift of salvation would be enough. But God continues to pour out His blessings on men in so many ways. All we enjoy on this earth is a gift from Him. Everything that exists was created by Him. The wonders of this world remind us constantly of Him. He is a great, good, faithful and forgiving God who inspires shouts of joy!

Father, while I am eternally grateful for Your forgiveness of my sins, I don’t ever want to take for granted all the other wonders You work in and around my life each and every day. You are a merciful, loving God who has given mankind so much. You provided us with life and then You surrounded us with the awe of Your creation. Even with the affects of the fall, this world is still a pretty amazing place in which to live. We get to see Your power and experience Your provision each and every day. So not only do I get to enjoy Your forgiveness, I get to live in the midst of Your creation. Amen

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

Psalms 63-64 – Day 2

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The Thirst Quencher.
(Based on Psalm 63)

O God, You are my God; my personal God;
I will seek You from the moment I wake up and all day long.
I have unquenchable thirst for You spiritually,
And living in this world that’s like a waterless desert and can leave a man faint,
Even my body longs for the physical refreshment You alone can bring.
I am fully aware of Your holiness, Your set-apartness,
Because I have observed Your power and glory first-hand.
I have discovered that Your mercy and goodness makes living worthwhile,
Which is why praise for You comes so easily from my lips.
So I will bend my knee in submission to You as long as I live,
And I will lift up my hands to You in prayer because of Your reputation.
You spiritually satisfy me like a fine meal does the body,
And joyful praise is my response.
When I lie in bed at night, my thoughts go to You,
I fill my sleepless nights by thinking about You.
Because You have been my help in times past,
I know I will find myself safely rejoicing in Your protection again.
I hold on to You for dear life,
And You keep me safe in Your powerful grip.
But as far as those who wish to harm me,
You will take care of them, giving them exactly what they deserve.
They will suffer death and defeat, their bodies consumed by wild animals.
But as the king of Your people, I will rejoice in You.
Everyone who is true to their word and follows You will have reason to glory,
But all those who speak falsely will one day be stopped.

Put the Fear of God In Them.
(Based on Psalm 64)

O God, please listen to what I am saying.
I know it sounds like complaining,
But I need You to keep me from fearing my enemies.
Hide me so that their plots against me fail,
Don’t let this unruly mob of hooligans get to me.
They use their tongues like a well-sharpened sword,
Like a bow in an arrow, their bitter words pierce deeply.
They aim them at those who seek to live with integrity,
Attacking suddenly and with impunity.
They seem to find strength in doing what is wrong,
They brag about the traps they secretly set,
Saying, “Who will ever see them?”
They’re always seeking new ways to do what is wrong,
And their search is usually successful.
The depth of their thoughts and the hearts behind them are a mystery.
But what they don’t know is that God has them in His sights,
They will find themselves wounded, pierced through by God, as if by an arrow.
Their own words will be turned against them,
Others will shudder when they see what happens to them.
All men will end up fearing God when they see what He has done,
They will have to think long and hard about His actions.
Those who are righteous in God’s eyes will rejoice in Him,
They’ll learn to put their hope and trust in Him.
Those whose hearts are right with God will have reason to boast in Him.

Psalms 63-64 – Day 1

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Obsessed With God.

“I lie awake at night thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.” – Psalm 63:6 NLT

I wish I could say the statement found in the verse above was true of me. But rarely do I find myself lying in bed meditating or thinking about God. Oh, I may find myself thinking about all the things I need God to do for me, but that is not the same thing. I often find myself talking to Him, making requests and asking questions about why things are the way they are and what He is going to do about it all. But David seems to be saying something completely different. Like a child lying awake in bed on Christmas Eve, anticipating the joys of the morning to come, David finds himself immersed in the greatness and goodness of God Himself. He says, “My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NLT). David is in the midst of trying times, living in wilderness environment, both literally and figuratively. He is miles from the Tabernacle and far from the presence of his own people. Even though he was surrounded by those who have aligned themselves with his cause, David still struggled with feeling alone and isolated. So he found himself staying up at night thinking about God – His power, glory, unfailing love, protection, mercy, and ultimate salvation. Even in the midst of difficulty, David could sing about the goodness of God. He focused his attention on God instead of his circumstances. He thought about the character of God instead of worrying about the cares of the day.

David’s life was anything but easy, as Psalm 64 clearly illustrates. He still had enemies. He still had difficulties. He still had plenty of reasons to worry, doubt, fear, and despair. But rather than let his attention focus on his problems, He focused on His God. Reflecting on the nature and character of God is the greatest way to get our minds off of the worries of this world. Suffering should drive us to the One who has the capacity to relieve it. Difficulty should motivate us to turn to the One who can do something about it. Trials should encourage us to turn to the One who can perfect us through them. Rather than lie awake at night worrying, wouldn’t it make more sense to spend our time worshiping?

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Help me to cultivate a habit of thinking about You instead of my problems. Let me learn to focus my attention on Your goodness and greatness rather than the difficulties in my life. Amen

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

Psalm 62 – Day 2

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A Quiet, Patient Hope.
(Based on Psalm 62)

I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,
Because He is my only source of true salvation.
I don’t find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.
He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.
And I have a message for my enemies:
How long are you going to keep attacking me?
You’re all out to break me, but be careful,
To God, your defenses are like an unstable wall or a fence that is about to fall down.
You plot among yourselves about how to bring me down.
You’re nothing but liars, always talking trash about me,
Except when you’re in my company, then you act like my friends.
But I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,
Because my hope comes from Him.
I don’t find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.
He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.
God provides me with salvation, dignity, a source of strength, and a refuge.
Those who claim to believe in Him should trust Him all the time.
Pour out your heart to Him, because He really is a shelter in the storm.
All men, regardless of their status, are worthless, like a mist.
They deceive and lie, and their combined worth is that of air.
Don’t put your confidence in getting ahead through immoral means.
Even if you’re fortunate enough to gain wealth, don’t rely on it.
I’ve heard it said that true strength belongs to God alone, and so does mercy.
I’ve also heard it said that God pays back men according to their deeds.
He is merciful, but He is also just.