8 “Ifs” of Knowing God

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(Proverbs 2:5) Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

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Preceding this verse are five conditions for knowing God, which is finally, at last, the beginning of knowledge (verse 7). When these conditions are active descriptors of how I live and what I love, then I can enjoy valid and health-filled intimacy with God.

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First, I am impregnated by the Word His Spirit offers me; second, I hoard and treasure His commandments (verse 1). Third, I open my ears to hyper-alert attention, then stretch my being to apply whatever He commands (verse 2). Fifth, I boldly vocalize my desire for His knowledge; and sixth, I articulate how I’m changing my life based on my knowledge of God—something changes internally when I declare such things externally (verse 3). Seventh, I make redemptive riches my central prayer, and finally, I tirelessly discover and reclaim God’s answers to what sin had caused to be lost and hidden (verse 4).

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Father God, Your call on my life—on all people’s lives—is better than any Hollywood script. It’s real. It’s bigger than we are, at least it’s bigger than who and what my broken self-image is. Help me to be increasingly like Your precious Son, Jesus Christ.

Exchanging Evil for Good

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(Psalm 109:4,5) In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

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In shocking, graphic detail, David inventories how he promotes justice in the midst of an unjust and painful world. Half of this psalm lists specific prayers that cause spiritual crimes to boomerang back upon evildoers. Before being able to pray this way, though, David loved and prayed for his accusing adversaries, and he did good to them when they hurt and cursed him (v. 4, 21, 18).

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How easy it is to abuse justice by two equally pain-producing extremes: either taking justice into our own badly informed hands or allowing fear to shrink us into a false apathy that causes us to forsake justice. Vengeance clearly belongs to God, not to people (Romans 12), yet He requires people to fearfully use this tool (Romans 13; 1 Peter 4; Ephesians 1:22,23).

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Lord, You explain that "light dawns in the darkness for the upright" and that Your people are "gracious, merciful, and righteous" (Psalm 112:4). For a season, You evidently allow evil be believe it's winning (1 Corinthians 5:5) so that the contrast between it and Your character becomes increasingly evident. I volunteer to walk the Valley of the Shadow so Your dawn can be increasingly glorious (Proverbs 4:18).

Transformed by Transitions

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(Deuteronomy 31:6) Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.

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This encouragement was repeated several times to these people. It's a reminder, a promise, and a command. And because it's a command, it's also a choice. These are all necessary during times of change. Any transition is difficult because of the risks involved, but the most important risks to guard against are losing faith, hope, and love in the Lord.


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There doesn't seem to be a pill or miraculous gift for building courage and strength. These come from choices--deliberate and disciplined ways of seeing and responding to the Lord, the world, and myself. More than merely responding, true courage steps up and moves toward improvements and against challenges.

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Lord, as I write this I realize that courage--or fear--affects how I hear You. I want to pick up and wear the armor of Your faith, hope, and love. From Your perspective I can better hear and see how I should live in this new day. I've had enough of walking alone, with only my insight (i.e., blindness) to guide me.