Tag Archives: Christian men

My Helmet of Salvation

16 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Psalm 140

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Today’s Devotion from the Psalms

Reading: Psalm 140:6-8
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”
Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;
do not let their plans succeed (NIV). *

Psalm 60_12

Reflection
On a beautiful spring evening over twenty years ago, I went for a bicycle ride with my fourteen-year-old son, Josh. At that time, there were some beautiful mountain bike trails on a forest-covered escarpment above our home. After exploring these trails for a while, the time came for us to return home.

We crossed to the opposite side of the paved road and began our descent down the hill. Of course, our bikes began to pick up speed—no pedaling needed. There was a traffic light at the bottom of the hill where we needed to make a right turn down our street. Soon Josh was well ahead of me. He went sailing around that corner at top speed and launched himself and his bike onto the sidewalk. What Josh could not see due to a tall hedge was the minivan pulling into the intersection directly ahead.

Boom! His bike collided with the back wheel and side of the minivan. Next, I see Josh’s body flying over the roof of the van. I expect to find him dead or disabled on the other side of the vehicle. Not so. Miraculously, not so! He was shaken but conscious. We rushed him to a hospital to have him checked. No signs of concussion were detected. Answered prayer and his bicycle helmet saved him. The minivan owner was not so fortunate. Josh’s head dented the rear roof column. Body shop repairs cost $1,600. (Triple that figure for today’s cost.)

David voices this prayer in today’s reading from Psalm 140: Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

Is your head shielded? It’s your body’s most crucial asset. You can lose a limb—several limbs—and survive. But your head is essential. A lot of Christians are losing the battle for their heads these days. By that I mean we are filling our minds with the philosophical garbage and filth of this world. Many of the most active sites on the World Wide Web are porn sites. Christian men are particularly vulnerable.

Paul, the apostle, admonishes us: Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). One of the most important elements of that armor is the helmet of salvation. Are you certain of your salvation? Our salvation is as certain as the blood of Christ. It’s as certain as the empty tomb. But if we do not guard our minds and our eyes, which are the gateway to the mind, we can quickly find ourselves vulnerable. We need self-control and God’s help—His shielding. It doesn’t take long to pick up speed when your mind starts rolling downhill. Is your helmet on?

Response: Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed. I put on the helmet of salvation. I commit my thoughts and ways to you. Amen.

Your Turn: How vulnerable are you to attacks from the enemy? Are you retreating or holding your ground?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

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Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.TheElishaCodeCVR5

To purchase or for a closer look click here.

On the Day of Battle

31 Thursday Aug 2023

Posted by in Psalm 78

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Reading: Psalm 78:9-16
The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows,
turned back on the day of battle;
they did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by his law.
They forgot what he had done,
the wonders he had shown them.
He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
He divided the sea and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall.
He guided them with the cloud by day
and with light from the fire all night.
He split the rocks in the wilderness
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
he brought streams out of a rocky crag
and made water flow down like rivers (NIV). *

grayscale photo of man leaning on refrigerator

Photo by Aleksandr Neplokhov on Pexels.com

Reflection
Today’s reading from Psalm 78 discusses the cowardly behavior of the men of Ephraim. Though they were well-armed, they turned back on the day of battle. There are numerous instances in the annals of war, when a superior force was overwhelmed by fighters who were fewer in number, poorly equipped or both. Why does that happen?

Undoubtedly, armchair generals can provide a list of reasons for the poor performance of “superior forces” in a variety of historic battles. In every instance, the psychology or spirit of the troops is a contributing factor to their success or failure in war. In the case of the men of Ephraim, the psalmist tells us they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. How could this forgetfulness lead to defeat in battle?

Actually, Christian men are daily defeated in battle because they refuse to live by God’s commands, and they forget God is all-powerful. Soldiers who do not obey orders can’t be counted on in the day of battle. An army that knows its proud history is likely to rise to the occasion, rather than slink off in retreat. It has often been said that past performance is the best predictor of future results.

In the daily battles of life, how are you performing? Are you keeping God’s covenant and obeying the orders of Jesus, our commander-in-chief? Do you realize He is victorious over death, hell, and the grave? He’s no second-class wimp. Compared to our Lord, Satan is the second-class wimp, and when you come under the Lord’s command you are on the winning side; so live like it and act like it. He is the miracle worker. Today, the first miracle He is working on is the transformation of your life and mine. Are you up for the challenge, or like the men of Ephraim will you turn back on the day of battle?

Response: LORD God, today I accept the challenge to follow you with all my mind, heart, soul, and strength. Give me ears to hear and obey your commands. I pray in Jesus’ all-powerful name. Amen.

Your Turn: Why is daily obedience so crucial to the advancement of the kingdom of God? Have you been obedient to the Lord’s most recent command?

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

BGBG_v4.3_150[1818]

Please pray for peace to return to Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Vol III 2021-07-17 at 8.15.36 AM

Taking men’s ministry to the next level

27 Saturday Feb 2016

Posted by in News Reports, Psalms

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Next Level

Sydney Missionary Bible College (Flickr CC).

“Without spiritually-intentional friends we drift into spiritual stagnation.”

David Kitz
Special to Spur Ottawa

For three years, Jesus ran the most effective men’s ministry group ever. It went on to change the world. In terms of small group men’s ministry, Jesus set the gold standard.

This begs the question: How effective and life changing is men’s ministry in your church or fellowship circle?

If your answer is not effective or minimally effective, you are likely not alone.

Since January 2000, Lyle Johnson of Nextlevel Ministries has been trying to change that situation for men in the Ottawa region, and now Nextlevel is growing beyond its Ottawa base.

“Many men are languishing in relational isolation,” Johnson states. “They’re paying a big price, and that’s particularly true for Christian men.”

The rationale for his ministry is quite straightforward.

“A follower of Jesus Christ who navigates ‘The Way’ alone will not fare well. Without a few spiritually-intentional friends, serving as a social anchor, he will drift into spiritual stagnation or moral temptation.”

Johnson sees intentionality and accountability as keys to growth.

Nextlevel’s mission is “to provide men with the opportunity to experience life-transforming spiritual friendships with other men.”

“Growth doesn’t happen by accident,” Johnson explains. “We don’t grow spiritually unless we intend to grow. It happens best when we are connected and accountable in true friendship. It’s a friendship that goes deeper than just talking about last night’s hockey game.”

Currently, 35 Nextlevel covenant groups meet weekly to open the scriptures and their lives to one another. As a result, 250 men are experiencing deep spiritual friendships as they commit to encourage each other as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

In 2015 Nextlevel started groups in three new cities: Cornwall, Kingston, and Napanee.

Later this month Lyle Johnson is flying to Vancouver to train group leaders there. He admits that while that’s exciting, there is still so much to do in Ottawa.

“Here in Ottawa, we probably have 5000 to 10,000 Christian men who need to be connected into lifelong friendship groups, centred on Jesus.”

“We believe a man needs ‘friends for life’ to share all the trials and joys of his life, for all the years of his life.”

Andrew Nicholls has been involved in one of Johnson’s covenant groups for more than ten years. After a time he also began leading his own group.

“Being part of two different Nextlevel groups has given me what I have desired for a long time: close friendships with men who are always there for me,” he explains. “It is a safe place to share my darkest thoughts and experiences, as well as mountain top moments in my walk of faith.”

Nicholls goes on to say, “The biggest take away for me is drawing closer to Jesus through my relationship with my brothers in the group. I know God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit better, due to my walk with these brothers.”

Jesus might agree that small groups of men like these can change the world.