“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” —Psalm 34:1-4

Do you want to be able to say, “God delivered me from all my fears”? When God is magnified, fear vanishes.

Do you remember as a kid playing with a magnifying glass? Does the magnifying glass make things bigger? No, it just makes things look bigger in my eyes. When God is magnified—when we sing, “Be magnified, O Lord,” we don’t make God bigger; we recognize Him better for what He really is through that focus. When God is magnified, fear leaves the building.

Fear and a right view of God cannot co-exist. If my heart is filled with fear, I am not rightly estimating God in His capacities and interest and His care in my life. Go ahead and say it out loud:  “When God is magnified fear is gone.”

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, there’s a classic fear-inducing episode. Judah was being threatened with an impressive force of ‘ites (Moabites, Ammonites, Meunites). These were surrounding nations that decided Judah was easy pickings. They formed a flash-mob and “came against Jehoshaphat” (v.1). Chronicles is famous for big odds: God’s people, few; God’s enemies, many. When God was forgotten, the odds were overwhelmingly bad; when God was magnified, the odds didn’t matter anymore.

Jehoshaphat was a good king; not a great king, just a good one. Not an evil king; just an average, good king. God was judging him. Judah was in the south where Jerusalem is, the smaller portion of the nation of Israel—a divided kingdom. And Jehoshaphat was the fourth king over Judah. This turned out to be his shining moment!

Like David in today’s Psalm, Jehoshaphat “was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord” (v.3). After a fast, the king gathered the people and magnified the Lord. In verses 5-12, Jehoshaphat turned the whole problem over to God. What a great way to end a prayer: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You!” We magnify the Lord so that we can see Him more clearly! We magnify the Lord so that we can admit we bring little to the battle because the battle belongs to the Lord! —James MacDonald

Journal

How will I magnify the Lord in at least three ways today?

In what areas of life would it help for me to pray, “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You, Lord.”

Prayer

When I magnify You, Father, and see You more clearly in Your greatness, everything else shrinks in size to nothing. Instead of being mesmerized by my fears or struggles or challenges, help me to turn my eyes from those and gaze at all that You are. Even when I don’t know what to do, having my eyes on You will make all the difference. You will make a way where I can’t see a way. Be magnified in my life today, O Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, “I will not serve.” Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore. Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine? Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.” —Jeremiah 2:20-22

I wish I could tell you that people deal with guilt God’s way. The fact is, though, people don’t deal with guilt God’s way. Let’s look at some of the foolish things that people do to try to deal with their guilt. You may find one or more of these is uncomfortably familiar.

One of the foolish tactics is that people try to run from their guilt. That doesn’t work very well. They move to a different city, a different family, or a different job. But guilt tracks your moves. It’s your internal alarm. God gave that to you to help you to alert you to when you’re outside the boundaries. A lot of suffering is coming if you don’t resolve it.

Another “guilt management tool” is the cover up. “Maybe I can hide my guilt.” The problem is that it doesn’t work to cover it up. People try to hide guilt behind frantic activity and particularly religious activity. “I’m going to work at the church and I’m going to serve somehow. I’m going to give more.” Sometimes we even try to cover our guilt by smothering it with more unrighteous living. “I don’t care anymore! I’m just going to keep on sinning!” The people of Jeremiah’s time tried to cover up guilt as they became spiritually bankrupt.

We can also respond to guilt by trying to blame-shift. We’re like, “This is because of you.” But guilt has a way of coming back to us. I chose. And I’m responsible for the actions that I took. No matter how hard I try to put it onto somebody else, it’s coming back to me again.

How about this one? Just deny guilt. “I did nothing wrong. Nothing.” Try that for a while. It goes like this: “I did nothing, nothing, nothing . . . ” But it just doesn’t work. Guilt hangs in there.

God loves you. God made you with an internal alarm and you cannot run from it, cover it, blame-shift it, deny it. If you’re His child, He set you free and He wants to keep you free. Stop wasting guilt and use it as a push back to God.
—James MacDonald

Journal

Which of these tactics am I going to have to eliminate regarding guilt because I now know I’m not fooling anyone—particularly God?

What happens with guilt when I respond to it the wrong way?

Prayer

Father in heaven, I realize these tactics to avoid guilt are almost instinctive with humans—certainly with me. I don’t want to use them, and yet I also know I will need Your Spirit’s help to rein me in or get my attention when I’m about to waste guilt by not making corrections, seeking forgiveness, and repenting before You. I know guilt will be much less of a problem for me if I start letting it do its corrective work in me. I know that will lead to Your blessings, which is what I really want! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king . . . But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.” —Daniel 1:3-5, 8-9

When things are going smoothly in your life, you might not find it hard to believe that God is good. But if life takes a bad turn and something devastating happens, you might ask, “How could a good God allow this?” If you know that kind of pain, then you can empathize with Daniel.

Across the pages of Scripture that detail Daniel’s life from teenager to old man, you can write, “Sovereignty at work.” God was directing his life whether he saw it at the time or not.

Do you know his story? One bright day in Jerusalem when Daniel was just a teenager, he was captured as a POW and was ripped away from everything warm and familiar. Daniel’s enemies were working a cruel strategy. They singled out the best young people—the all-American teenagers voted MVP and “Most Likely to Succeed” and brought them to their capital city near modern-day Kuwait. Their plan was to brainwash these kids with their culture and make them leaders. Daniel was given a foreign name, Belteshazzar, forced to learn a new language, and was given a new diet.

Had Daniel decided what God was like by looking at his circumstances, he would have become a disillusioned, confused, angry young man. Kidnapped from his homeland, forced into slavery, most likely castrated to become a eunuch in the palace, Daniel’s eyes were still on God. Don’t gloss over these facts like they’re from some made-for-TV movie. This story is true in every detail. Imagine the suffering connected with his circumstances, yet Daniel went through the fire—successfully. This certainly gives us hope that we can make it through the firestorm, too.

No doubt a situation comes to mind right now from either your past or your present. You may wonder how a God of love could have allowed some painful, wrong injustice. Yet, I would bet on the fact that you’ve not come full circle yet. There will be a day when you will look back and see how God’s sovereign hand was at work. Truth is, He is in the center of the situation that troubles your heart right now. He’s right in the middle of it.

Just because you can’t see Him, doesn’t mean He isn’t there. Look for Him, trust Him—He is at work. —James MacDonald

Journal

What situation comes to mind where I find myself doubting God’s goodness?

When was the last time I made an effort to recognize God’s goodness during a very difficult time in my life?

Prayer

Father, I know You are at work in my life and circumstances even when I don’t see Your hand. I know You are working all things together for good. Help me fix my heart on You no matter how long I must wait to see a bigger picture. I believe You will bring all things around for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” —Luke 18:9-14

Do you have any empty pews where you worship? How do you explain that? When was the last time you ordered more chairs or started another service? Why are people skipping church?

Well, it’s not because of Jesus for sure, would you agree? And it’s not because of the Bible, right? It’s because of Christians and because people’s experience with Christianity is so negative. People have turned Christianity into a religion. Jesus’ parable above is about this exact condition. Read it again and compare the two prayers. Which one do you think most resembles a prayer you might hear at your church on any given weekend? Which one represents faith and which one represents religion?

I want to share with you five decisions that will free us from religion:

1.  Refuse to bind others with man made rules. Rules beyond God’s always hurt more people than they help. Any rules pursued as a way to gain merit with God or salvation are wasted effort, sure to fail. The Pharisee was smug with his religious system, oblivious to God’s rejection.

2.  Reject externals as a spiritual yardstick. The Pharisee judged a fellow sinner to make himself look better, but he actually distanced himself from God.

3.  Review your walk or your relationship with God and beware of the dangers of form without function. We may fool others with external appearances, but God knows our hearts.

4.  Return to the basics of examination and confession. In a world that abhors personal responsibility, God welcomes those who know themselves as sinners and entrust themselves to God’s grace and mercy.

5.  Renew your pursuit of personal humility. Humility isn’t a look or appearance; it’s action. Humility chooses Christ’s way over my way. Humility says to God, “Your will, Lord, not mine.”

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable rejected each of these wise decisions; the tax-collector practiced them. What will be your condition the next time you come home from church? —James MacDonald

Journal

Why is being religious such a pervasive temptation in my life?

What does freedom in Christ mean to me today?

Prayer

Almighty Father, I am that tax collector. And yet I confess that sometimes I’ve acted like that Pharisee. Forgive me for judging others by standards I couldn’t live up to for a moment. Forgive me for thinking I could do something to make You accept me. Thank You for reminding me again and again that only when I see myself clearly as a sinner can I then receive Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying,⁹“If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.”
—2 Chronicles 20:7-9

Wow! Read those verses again. In fact, if you’ve got your Bible close (as you should) read all of 2 Chronicles 20. Now, let’s take a few minutes with verse 7, “Did you not . . .?” This is King Jehoshaphat praying. In this verse, his focus is on the faithfulness of God. So, he’s not just reminding God who He is, it’s what He’s done. He doesn’t change. God will do as God has done. Fear not!

And so he says, “Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” The king is declaring in public, I know what You’re like. I know what You did. Then he moves on in verses 8-9 to review why he is standing before the Temple, crying out to God.

Verse 9 quotes 1 Kings 8:33, part of Solomon’s dedication prayer. Notice the phrase, “for your name is in this house.” God didn’t “live” in His house, but His name, His reputation, His character and relationship with Israel was represented by the Temple.

The question is, does God need reminding? Does He ever forget what He did or what He promised? Absolutely not! So, is the king in trouble? No. Reminding God of something He did or said is one of the best ways for us to remember who He is!

If you and I are not claiming God’s promises and reviewing His acts of faithfulness in prayer we are missing out on great power. God is never irritated when we accurately quote His Word back to Him. Our prayers should be applications of Scripture before our attentive heavenly Father. When God said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8), He wasn’t just pointing out our obvious limitations. He was also pointing us to the most trustworthy source in the universe for direction in thought, action, and prayer: God’s own Word. Memorizing Scripture is not only an essential step in godly meditation (see Psalm 1); it is also a crucial step in developing a robust prayer life!
—James MacDonald

Journal

What Scriptures do I use most often in prayer?

What are some promises or instructions from God’s Word that I haven’t memorized yet but realize I need to as “fuel” for my prayers?

Prayer

Father, did You not promise, “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you?”(James 4:8) Because You promised to be with me always, I don’t have to stand in a certain place, but have immediate access to You. Today I want to walk with You in such a way that at various times I will be suddenly aware that You are keeping Your promise and drawing near to me. Thank You for Your powerful and trustworthy Word! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. —Colossians 2:13-15

When God wins, He wins big time. This is no overtime, squeak-it-out victory. Not like they call it in soccer when they have that penalty kick thing—the shootout. This is no shootout victory where you get one penalty shot and the ball dribbles in, but it was really a tie. God doesn’t operate like that. When God wins the battle, the contest is over.

With each painful step to Calvary, Jesus was taking on “the principalities and powers” that waved “the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.” Satan had an open-and-shut case against us—we were toast. But Colossians 2:14 tells us that when Jesus won the victory on the cross, “He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (NKJV). It’s like, “BEAT YOU!” That’s the way God wins. I love that because I really like winning. When it came to settling our eternal destiny, God’s not like, “Well, good game.” He’s like, in your face, standing on your chest, “You LOST! Just like I TOLD you!” That’s the way God wins.

We can almost hear the joyful shouts of the former slaves looking back toward the sea that has closed over the Egyptian army that had been in hot pursuit of Israel. Game over! “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . . ” (Exodus 15:1) Miriam sang it over and over (see Exodus 15:21). It’s never about our victories; it’s about God’s victory for us.

Romans 8:37 says, “…we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” We are super conquerors. God doesn’t just win He crushes the enemy. That’s why you don’t want to get in that battle yourself. This is why the battle that took place at the cross was entirely out of our hands. Jesus took on our debts, our sins, and our condition and defeated the eternal hold any of those things had on us. Through Him we are freely given a place in the conquering band that will celebrate victory forever! Allow yourself to live today in the glow of the victory that Jesus won for you. —James MacDonald

Journal

How does the concept of victory fit into the way I think about my life in Christ?

Where do I need to experience some victory today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I admit I don’t usually feel much like a “super-conqueror” would feel. But I realize that the more I focus on what You have done, rather than worrying about what I have done, the more I sense the freedom to feel victorious. Thank You for being the decisive factor in every battle I face. Remind me to keep trusting You in the battles I face today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31-32

I want to talk to you several times this month about—without question—the most important subject in the universe to you. I want to talk to you about your salvation. My goal is not to make you think you don’t have it if you do, but it’s definitely to let you know that you don’t have it if in fact you don’t. This is something you can’t afford to roll the dice on. Right? You can have some real clarity on this subject. The Bible calls it your “salvation.”

If a doctor were to do surgery on you and remove a terminal tumor, you would say that he had “saved” you. If a fireman were to pull you out of a burning building that was about to collapse, you would say that he had “saved” you. The Bible teaches that you have terminal tumor called sin. And that you are headed toward flames that never cease but that God, in His mercy, sent His Son to die for your sin so that you could be saved.

Now, the fact is that everybody’s not saved. There are many people (the Bible uses the word “many” a lot in this regard) who think they are saved, but they are not. Are you sure that you’re saved? And do you have a biblical reason for saying that you are saved? You’re not saved because you say so. And you’re not saved because you know how to be saved any more than you are in Cincinnati because you know how to get there.

Genuine disciples (saved people) abide in Jesus’ words. If I were to ask you, “Are you saved?” I think you would say, “Yes, I am.” But then I’ll ask, “How do you know you are?” If you’re like, “Well, in Awana in 1974 . . .” I’d be like, “Eenk! Wrong answer!” Don’t tell me how it happened, give me evidence.

When you know you’re saved you say something like, “I’m abiding in Jesus and in His words.” I asked my daughter-in-law today, “Are you saved?” She said, “Yes.” I said, “How do you know?” And she said, “Because I have a growing hunger and desire for God’s Word.” Great answer! —James MacDonald

Journal

What are the most apparent clues in my life right now that indicate I am saved?

How would I explain salvation as both a decision and a life?

Prayer

Father in heaven, thank You for salvation—especially mine! Thank You for interrupting my life and showing me I need a Savior. Thank You for giving to me not only a future hope but a present awareness of Your work in my life, “both to will and work for Your good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Help me love Your Word and daily abide in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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. —Ephesians 5:15-17

A fourth reason for understanding God’s will is because godly decisions arrived at in a biblical way please God. Make no mistake about it, when you’re in the process of making a decision, God is incredibly interested. And if you arrive at a godly decision, He’s pleased by it.

I really am excited to share this verse with you; Ephesians 5:17 says, “Therefore, do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.” God commands us to understand His will. He has a will. And by “will” we mean God has a desire or God has a plan. He does have one. In fact, I’d like to go over that with you. Start with that passage above. The “understand what the will of the Lord is” part involves circling back to the beginning of the thought: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”

First, “carefully” is an important word, a personal responsibility word. So is “walk,” which is the figurative way the Bible says “live.” God’s will is about our obedience but it’s also about our decision-making! He wants us to make wise, careful decisions that seek to please Him. Now, as an example, a phrase like “making the best use of the time” might be carried out wisely in a number of ways. If we think that God is hiding one and only one answer to that phrase and wants to leave us twisting in the wind while we wonder what that is, we won’t do very well in our walking—we’ll be stuck.

God has given us, in His Word, a wide assortment of ways to make the best use of time. For example: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). Thinking about any one or all of these things would certainly be the best use of time, and yet none of us would probably do it exactly the same way. What would please God most is that we think about these things, not which particular ones of these things we choose to think about. Part of God’s will is for you and me to become wise decision-makers. —James MacDonald

Journal
What was my last wise decision and how do I think the process and the outcome were both part of God’s will?

Prayer
Thank You again, Father, for the privilege to think about and consider Your will. Surely this exercise is part of Your will for me. Thank You for the privilege of being entrusted with Your Word and the capacity to make informed and wise choices based on what You have said. Thank You for the opportunities to encourage others as we pursue making wise decisions together as Your people. And thank You that You always carry out faithfully Your part of Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or free. —Ephesians 6:5-8

A third reason to get a biblical view of God’s will is because there’s so much frustration. I’ll tell you, I talk to so many people who are so frustrated with this whole matter of God’s will. Constantly people are saying, “I’m trying to figure out God’s will for me. I’m trying to determine what God wants.” There’s just a whole lot of pain among Christians on the subject of God’s will. People wrestling with it and people arguing over God’s will without seriously attending to God’s Word on it. It’s frustrating because I realize these people are not trying to avoid God’s will—they want to know so they can obey! Their uncertainty leaves them in a state of frustrated indecision.

We’ve struggled with this notion that God is like some kind of cosmic Easter bunny who has hidden His will in little parcels all over the world. We’re supposed to go around and try to find them. Meanwhile God’s up in heaven going, “You’re getting warmer, you’re getting colder.” Like there’s a game that we’re playing and we’re supposed to try to figure it out. And God is perversely holding from us the understanding of what He wants.

He’s NOT! God is not like that. You and I can know God’s will and God wants us to know it. And there’s no mystery about it. Life’s decisions are difficult and the God who wants us to live in accordance with His will has certainly revealed that will to us. That’s a big part of the reason God wrote a book and took great pains to make it available to us!

How many people would be honest and say, “When it’s time to make a tough decision I find it hard because I’m either afraid of somehow violating God’s will or uncertain about what His will could be in that situation.” It is a hard place to find yourself. Life’s decisions are difficult and people want to know what God would have them do. And we need to know how to use the biblical guide for decision-making so that we can avoid a lot of pain. Understanding God’s will won’t necessarily make life itself easier, but it will provide us with a clearly marked path through life’s difficulties in God’s company. —James MacDonald

Journal
What would be some of the differences in the way I live my life if I had a clearer understanding of God’s will?

Prayer
O God, teach me to walk by faith in You and Your good plans and will for me. Help me to face the uncertainties of life with confidence that You have provided wisdom for me to live. Show me in Your Word where You have made the choices and where You have left certain choices up to me. I long to live confidently under Your guiding hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:1-2

The second reason we need to let God weigh in on His will is because there is so much abuse of the subject. I certainly hear attempts at this often and have witnessed the results for many years now. Christians use this phrase to push off accountability to other people saying, “This is God’s will for me.” And what they really imply by saying that is, “I have determined that God wants me to do this so don’t you say anything to me because, bottom line, this is what God wants, so don’t mess with Him.” Christians (me included) can sometimes use that phrase a little bit flippantly. It’s always tempting to put the “God’s will” label on what is my will. It may work as a way to end discussion but it risks offending God if we are using that phrase to refuse wise counsel.

Now, have you noticed how when you overuse something it starts to become less meaningful? I think we’re overusing the phrase “God’s will.” God does have a will but I think we’re far too aggressive when we say, “That is/is not God’s will.” I wish I had not said that sometimes. Claiming the inside track on knowing God’s will is dangerous—particularly, as Romans 12:2 indicates, if what we propose isn’t “good and acceptable and perfect.”

Do you know what’s even more dangerous? It’s the people who basically say, “God told me to tell you His will for you.” Do you hear that? Now whether it’s a preacher at the front or your mother on the phone, when somebody says to you, “God told me to tell you this,” every red flag you have should go up.

Please consider that maybe “God told me to tell you” is sometimes at best presumptuous and at worst very dangerous. I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t tell us things, or that there aren’t times where the Lord might not lay something on my heart to share with you or you with me. I am simply pointing out that you’re saying it happened doesn’t mean it happened. We should be very, very careful about how we use that phrase with one another. There’s so much abuse. —James MacDonald

Journal
Based on Romans 12:1-2, how do I go about “testing” when I think I have discovered or someone tells me they’ve discovered God’s will?

Prayer
Father, my desire to submit to Your will needs to be shaped and directed by Your Word. Remind me to have a healthy suspicion of my conclusions until I can clearly see that they conform to what You have revealed in Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.