Three Reminders From Psalm 22 For Those In Suffering

Ever gone through a season of suffering? Has there been a period of time in your life when you felt God was far from you, or even that He was being silent? For some that season is now. If that is you, then I want to share with you three practices taught to us in Psalm 22 that will help you through this season. For others of us that season has past, but we realize it may come again. These three practices will be lessons to learn now, and then be ready to apply when we do enter back into the low places of life. They could also be lessons that you learn and share as encouragement to someone you know going through suffering.

1. When you are suffering, be honest about it.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:1-2)

I don’t remember when or where, but I often feel like I was trained to “put on a happy face” when I talk with God. Like long ago someone said, “Don’t let God catch you being upset with your circumstances, and especially don’t let Him catch you in a moment of honest weakness.” Wherever this lie came from the psalmist shows us that being honest with God about our emotions and thoughts is the better route. God knows all our thoughts anyways, so even thinking we could hide things from Him was silly to begin with. Yes, the place of healing and moving forward starts with being honest with God, and even letting Him hear our unedited and unrestrained cries from the most honest places of our hearts.

2. When you are suffering, remember God’s character and faithfulness in the past.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:3-5)

Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. (Psalm 22:9-11)

When we are suffering it is hard to see beyond this world, and especially beyond the present pain. But, the psalmist reminds us to do both of these things. We are reminded to look beyond this world, past this unholy broken mess, and to focus on the holy God. We are taught to look to the God who is good, and worthy of trust. The God who does not change in character, and whose promises are the same from one day to the next. When we suffer we need to remember that there is a good, just, and holy God who still is sovereign over all circumstances, and is willing to help those who seek Him.

Also, the psalmist reminds us to look beyond the present. When the heart is heavy, time moves at a snail’s pace. We sit and groan as the hours trudge on. We get so caught up in the present during suffering, but the psalmist shows us the benefit in breaking out of the present to remember the past. Remember how God has been faithful to those He loves. Remember how He has been faithful to His people. Remember how he rescued our ancestors from calamity and from their seasons of suffering. Remember how they trusted in Him, and were not forsaken.

Then, once you’ve remembered these things, get more personal in your remembering. Remember how God created you in your mother’s womb. Remember how it was His hands and His power that brought your into existence, and how He is the ultimate author of your life. Those in suffering begin to find strength for the day when they acknowledge the holy God beyond this broken world, and when they remember How good and faithful He has been in the past.

3. When you are suffering, remember God has suffered too and that there is hope.

For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22:16-18)

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. (Matthew 27:35)

What a mystery of love that God Almighty would lower Himself to take on fullness of humanity. Further, that Jesus Christ, the King of kings, would allow Himself to be crucified on a cross to save humanity from eternal suffering. We all deserved eternal suffering for our sins, but God loves us so much that He experienced the full weight of that penalty on the cross. Not only physical death, but on the cross Jesus Christ swallowed up all the eternal suffering that was meant for us.

In view of this humbling reality–the salvation we have in Christ Jesus– we who are in Christ now have the ability to endure suffering with great hope. We may have temporary suffering now, but we should rejoice knowing that we have been saved from an eternal suffering through Jesus Christ. Also, we know that if Jesus Christ did experience the wrath of God, then surely He understands our temporary suffering and can help us through it.

Moreover, we know that there is a final restoration to come that Jesus modeled in His glorious resurrection. One day there will be no more suffering for the creation will be renewed and the good King will establish His eternal reign of peace and joy. Those in Christ need not suffer today without hope. We have so much hope in Christ, and that should light a spark in a weary heart. Great things are in store for the children of God. He loves us more then we know. Once this fleeting life is over, there will be such unspeakable joys in store for all the saints forevermore.

Whether you are suffering today, you know someone who is suffering, or you are not yet suffering, when these truths are applied to our lives they will bring renewal to our spirits. When we suffer let us be honest before God, let us remember His holy character and past faithfulness, and let us rejoice that we have a glorious Savior who understands suffering and has provided eternal hope!

The Missing Spiritual Discipline

Spiritual disciplines help Christians maintain healthy spiritual lives. They keep us fit, and ready for duty. They guard us from the snares of the Enemy, and from the lusts of our flesh. They nurture our fellowship with God. Many of them are biblical commands, and not open for negotiation. Some of them are easier than others. All of them are for our good, and take (no surprise here) discipline.

A few months ago I noticed one vital spiritual discipline missing from my life–confession of sins to others.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16 ESV

James is calling us share our sins with one another, because of the relationship between confession and healing. He knows that through confession of sins we find healing.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 

So, why do we avoid confessing our sins to one another if it brings such healing? Why are we disobedient to this biblical command? Part of the issue is trust. We worry someone might gossip about our problems, or blackmail us. But, doesn’t love always trust? God is calling His children to love each other in a divine way. So, where the world’s wisdom would say, “You’ll only get hurt,” God’s wisdom says, “Trust your family.” We must trust that they will love us and will help seek our restoration.

Another reason we don’t confess our sins to each other is our pride. We don’t want people to think less of us. We have an image to protect. If we confess sins, then that image gets tarnished. But, when did the Christian walk become about impressing each other? Did we forget that the good in us is 100% the product of Jesus Christ? All we bring to the table is total dependence and utter neediness on His work and righteousness. When we all put a fake mask of righteousness over our sins, then we forget our complete and desperate need for Christ. Even worse, we put pressure on each other to try to keep up in a wicked game of “Who’s the Best Christian?”. Isn’t that exactly where the Enemy would like us to be?

Bottom line: God tells us to confess sin. We should confess as often as we sin, not just on Sundays. We are to not only confess to Him, but also to other believers. Through confession Christ invites His followers to find healing and restoration. He reminds us how much we still need Him everyday, even long after we’ve been saved.

I encourage you to find an accountability partner. Who could that person be for you? Find a fellow believer with whom you are comfortable, and with whom you agree to confidentiality. I’ve gone through this process over the past two months or so with two incredible brothers in Christ. The personal benefits have been those listed in this post, and my spiritual walk is healthier for it. As you also humbly obey God’s command for confession, you will see God’s blessing on your life through the practice of this too often neglected spiritual discipline.

How To Make Every Sunday Worship Gathering A “Good One”

Sunday mornings after church has finished, and the car is loaded up to head out, there are two questions that often seem to be the topics of conversation. 1) What did you think of the worship today? 2) What’s for lunch?

Now, what’s for lunch is an excellent question. Vitally important, and potentially crucial to the alliances of family members. But, I’ll let you figure that one out on your own.

I’m more concerned with the first question. What did you think of the worship today? Did you like it? Did it move you? Did you get something out of it? Do these questions sound familiar? Everyone always has their answers. “It was a good one” “The female singer always moves me when she sings (fill in favorite Hillsong tune)” “That guitar player was impressive!” or “It didn’t really do it for me” “I didn’t like the song selection today” “Not my week for worship I guess”

In our consumer driven culture we are always reviewing entertainment. We judge movies, music, t.v. shows, books, clothing, peoples lives, people’s houses, people’s abilities, etc… We like to review, critique, and compare. We stay disengaged ourselves, because that way we remain in control. Always the critic.

Is this attitude appropriate on Sunday’s though? Is that the attitude we should bring to worship? If we approach worship services with this attitude of “let’s see if it moves me”, then we don’t understand worship. Furthermore, if we want worship services to please our desires, then we aren’t really coming to worship God. We are coming to continue worshiping ourselves.

In the book of Romans, Paul teaches us that worship is about personal sacrifice. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1 ESV) Worship is about sacrifice. Sacrifice is about what I give up. In the case of this verse from Romans, Paul says we are to give up our bodies as our sacrifice for spiritual worship. We offer our entire lives humbly before God. We give him everything. This is the complete opposite of “what’s in it for me?” worship.

Interestingly enough, when we approach Sunday worship with the attitude of sacrifice, we realize that every Sunday has the potential to be great. The ball is in our court. Not the worship band’s court, not the tech team’s court, not even the preacher’s court, but in the court of every worshiper. If we arrive ready to surrender our wills, sacrifice our pride, and lift up the only Name that is worthy of worship, then we can’t help but have good worship experiences on Sundays.

So, when we get into our cars after Sunday worship this weekend, perhaps we should ask a different question. As our faithful pastor David Chadwick always reminds us back stage before services start on Sundays, “When all is said and done, let us ask was our worship pleasing to You God, for that is all that truly matters.”

Hope For The Weak

My life is so fragile. I have done nothing to put myself on this earth, and I can do very little to keep myself on this earth. I am like an ant in my backyard. It wouldn’t take much to wipe me out.

Not even if I sweat and worked every day to the bone could I find a way to stop the inevitable death that awaits me at any moment. Within approximately fifty years I’ll be gone, if not sooner. I can claim absolutely nothing as my own. Even my most precious values, my beautiful wife and my family, are outside of my ability to protect in any substantial sense of the word. I may be able to provide for them material goods for now, but in the end there is no scenario that keeps us together on this planet healthy and unharmed forever. Pain is coming. Loss in coming. I hate to admit it, but it’s true.

I am limited, changing, weak, fickle, and small. I am so dependent.

Though I am so weak, God provides hope. The results of the Fall (Genesis 3) still made this world a wreck, but God is reconciling that wreck in Jesus Christ. We still die, but there is eternal life in Jesus Christ. We still are like ants, but ants that can be transformed into Sons and Daughters of God in Jesus Christ. In God there is an abundance of hope available.

God is the constant amidst our chaos. He is the perfect combination of goodness and greatness. Because God is good, He wants to help us. Because God is great, He is capable of helping us.

So, yes, I must admit my incredible weakness. But, I rejoice in my weakness, because I know that when I am weak, God is seen strong. I know that though I am weak, God loves me. God loves little, weak, fickle me. And He’s working on me. He’s making me something better. Praise God, because in Christ God is making me into something unfathomable from this ant’s perspective. He is making me His child.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
    “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39 ESV)

The Gospel Is Offensive

This spoke incredible truth to me from “Ashamed of the Gospel” By John MacArthur Jr. regarding 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:

“Paul’s reason for becoming all things to all men was not so he could slip the gospel in covertly. On the contrary, it was so he could without hindrance proclaim the truth of the gospel more straightforwardly than ever. He wanted to remove any personal offense, so the offense of the gospel would be the only one.”

The gospel is offensive, because it points out the sin and pride of man and calls us to repent. We, Christians, must not let our message be over-contextualized and softened to the point that it is no longer the gospel. MacArthur went on to use this well-said quote by Spurgeon:

“Now observe, brethren, if I, or you, or any of us, or all of us, shall have spent our lives merely in amusing men, or educating men, or moralizing men, when we shall come to give our account at the last great day we shall be in a very sorry condition, and we shall have but a very sorry record to render; for of what avail will it be to a man to be educated when he comes to be damned? Of what service will it be to him to have been amused when the trumpet sounds, and heaven and earth are shaking, and the pit opens wide her jaws of fire and swallows up the soul unsaved? Of what avail even to have moralized a man if still he is on the left hand of the judge, and if still, ‘Depart, ye cursed,’ shall be his portion?”

We must share the gospel truth, and it must be clear and unadulterated. IN LOVE BE BOLD WITH YOUR GOSPEL PROCLAMATION TODAY.

If You Get One Thing Right

Whether it’s with your co-workers, your classmates, your family members or even your brothers and sisters in Christ, there always seems to be a conflict of ideas popping up somewhere in life. Tension caused by mixed opinions is a climate in which most of us have grown accustom. Especially in a postmodern culture where everyone’s opinion has a place and a diversity of viewpoints is respected. We are encouraged to form our own opinions, but sometimes don’t know how to handle a situation where someone draws a line in the sand, and then stands on the side opposite to us.

Now, this conflict we find in life will act as a catalyst for changing us into the people we will become and for calibrating what level of virtuous character we currently find ourselves exhibiting. The tensions we run into almost every day are moments of opportunity for the good in us to be seen. Likewise, they are moments that also can display some of the worst evil and pride that still encompasses our hearts.

So, how will you respond today when you find yourself in conflict? How should you respond?

The primary goal in resolving these daily conflicts should be to love the people with whom we have a conflict. We should love them with the words we use during our communications in front of their face and when they are not in our presence. We should love them by seeking their honest good throughout the process. We should love them by making personal sacrifices before asking them to make sacrifices. We should love them by seeking resolution and not division.

At the end of the day, you can win the argument and get your way, but still have lost. When we get to Heaven, God will not reward our victories over who got to see their movie selection, or who got their initiative for the company approved, or who got their family vacation destination picked, or even who got their concept of what Sunday morning should really look like actualized. His question will be, “Did you love each other?”, “Did you care for your brother and sister?”, “Did you lay your pride down and carry your cross as I taught you?”

See the student is not greater than the Master. We should look to Jesus Christ as our example. Did he win the conflict with the legalistic Pharisees? Did he get his way? Did he force his good over the good of others? Did he cry and whine until people listened?

Did he love?

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

1 Corinthians 13

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  1 John 13:34-35

The Eyes of Eternity

A wise man once encouraged me to look into people’s eyes and realize that I’m gazing into eternity. I’m staring into a soul that will never cease to exist. As he stared into my eyes, he asked me if I could see it. Could I feel the weight of the eternity of a soul. The gravity of the knowledge that the person you are looking at was created and will never end.

This thought has stuck with me and continues to impact the way I look at people I meet. Moreover, I know the horrifying truth that unless they have repented and believed in Jesus Christ by faith, they will spend eternity in hell. That is a reality that is difficult to chew, and even more difficult to swallow. But, God is clear on the reality of hell for the unsaved. It is written in Revelation,

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 ESV)

And in Matthew,

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’  …And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41, 46 ESV)

As Christians, the thought of hell should give us a sober perspective of the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ and being counted among the saved. But, it should also give us great compassion for the lost to know Jesus Christ as well. Too often we turn a blind eye to the eternity of the souls around us. We shut our lids to their need for the Gospel.

Open your eyes and look into the eyes of those around you. Look into the eyes of your coworkers, your mom, your dad, your husband/wife, your kids, your neighbors, and even those you know from church. Do they truly know Jesus as their Savior and God? Don’t they need the good news and peace of Jesus as desperately as you needed it the day you became a child of God? Look long and hard into their eyes and realize that their soul is never going to end. Realize that you are right in front of them for a reason. Be an encouragement to them. Be a seed planter for the Gospel. Don’t waste the privilege God has given you to share the grace and love of Jesus Christ with them.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Suffering & Eternity

I once heard it said that the scariest prayer to pray is “God, Thy will be done.” Jesus’ will for your life may be drastically different than the will you have in mind for your life. It may even be painfully more difficult than you are willing to endure. Are you willing to embrace his will for your life, even if it involves suffering? Are you willing to potentially give up your biggest dreams and life aspirations in pursuit of God, who is the ultimate good? Do you trust him enough to say, “Thy will be done”?

I think most of us would like to say yes, but the testimony of our lives says we would rather play it safe. We are Christians, but only practice our faith when we know there is no danger. We praise the cross of Jesus Christ, whom suffered immensely for us, but we would certainly hate it if we had to be the ones who suffered. We want to be like Jesus in his resurrection, but not in his suffering. But, if we want to truly be called Christians, the Bible tells us that we will suffer. Suffering is guaranteed. Scripture is clear that suffering and following Jesus go hand in hand.

Romans 8:16-18 ESV [16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (italics added)

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV [12] Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

John 15:18-19; John 15:20 ESV [18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

You see now that suffering is non-negotiable for Christians. So, if we are truly seeking Christ and walking in obedience to him we will know physical pain, loss, and heartache. We will suffer, because Jesus suffered. We will suffer, because the enemies of God are the enemies of the Jesus in us. We will suffer, because our bodies are broken from sin.

Still, our hope is in our future glory with Christ in eternity. We will suffer, but not forever. When Jesus Christ returns, which could be this very hour, we will live pain free forevermore. Our heavenly hope is certainly incomparable to earthly suffering. We will actually see God in all his beauty and splendor. There we will know joy everlasting in the perfect kingdom of God. Furthermore, we can have peace and joy in this life, in spite of suffering, because we know that our eternal relationship with God is guaranteed to us through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV [17] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, [18] as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

So, I urge you, if you are truly a Christ follower, to follow him wherever he may lead. Follow him even through suffering. Know that he will be faithful with a steadfast love to see you through. And if you are currently suffering, then know there will be a day to which all temporary suffering will seem insignificant in comparison to an eternity of fellowship with our beautiful Father. Trust him and continue to endure. Unspeakable joy awaits you in eternity.

When I was brought low, He saved me.

I was 19 when I had one of the most powerful experiences with the living God in my life. It was the fall of 2005 and I was three months into my freshman year at Arizona State University. I was making most of the poor decisions college students make and realized that my life was on the wrong track. I remember lying on my bed one night and the darkness of my room matched the darkness I felt inwardly. It was then that I began to cry out to God for healing, light, forgiveness, and mercy. As I humbled myself before Him, He responded powerfully to my pleas for help. He began to reorder my life and redirect my decisions towards righteousness and holiness. When I needed Him most, God’s response was gentle and powerful to lift me from the dark.

Perhaps you have experienced God this way before, as your savior and healer. Take time today to remember His gracious and merciful acts in your life and then praise Him for being so loving and good. Express your thankfulness to Jesus Christ for paying the price for your sins on the cross and for providing new life through His resurrection. You have truly been bought at the highest price.

Maybe you have not yet experienced God as good and loving and your life is currently in a season of darkness that you are not sure how to escape. Your self-centered attitude is all consuming and you make choices that you know are wrong. Please, slow down and cry out to God for mercy and rescue. No matter how screwed up your life is and no matter how many wrong choices you have made there is grace and mercy for you. Jesus Christ died for us all while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Realize you have nothing to offer God and accept that He can give you through Jesus Christ the ability to live righteously and pure.

I am so thankful for God’s forgiveness and restoration in my life and I pray you get the opportunity to experience Him in this way. If you have already, then I pray you praise Him continually and continue to rely upon His strength and mercy daily.

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.  Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.  Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”  Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.  The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Psalm 116:1-6 ESV

Undivided Worshipers: Making the most of our time

There are hours of our lives that are wasted. Minutes that pass without meaning. Seconds that tick by without lasting value. We live in an evil age where sin is acceptable and every minute provides the opportunity for a fall. How are you spending the time God has given you?

Listen as the Spirit moves the apostle Paul to write these words of truth:

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV)

As Christ followers we have to fight daily, not only to stay pure and holy, but also to actively participate in restoring the brokenness that surrounds us. The Greek word for the phrase “making the best use of” can also mean “redeem”. God gives us the command to use our time for redemptive purposes.

As worshipers of the Most High God, we have the privilege and duty to spend our days shining light into dark places (Matt. 5:16). But, foolishly we can get sidetracked into wasting time on empty thrills. What is it for you? I heard Andy Stanley put it this way, “What is the thing in your life that is not a sin, but you wouldn’t want any one else to know about it?” Whatever it is, it is not fulfilling you and not honoring God.

Let it be your joy and pleasure today to be undivided in your worship and devotion to God. Becoming an undivided worshiper is key to counter acting wasted time. Did you see how part of using time wisely is encouraging one another with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, and making music to God from our hearts? Undivided worship is how we should spend our time!

The beautiful thing is that when we give up our pointless passions to become undivided worshipers, we find a deep fulfillment that is truly satisfying to our souls.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 ESV)

Prayer of devotion: “God, please let me not waste my days on this earth. May you help me by the filling of your Spirit to live as an undivided worshiper. May I make music to you from my heart and constantly be encouraging others with spiritual songs. I want to live wisely and make the most of my time for your glory. Thank you for your unending grace and patience. I give you my whole self. In Jesus name. Amen.”